Woking Borough Council is the local authority for the borough of Woking in the county of Surrey, England. The council consists of 30 councillors, three for each of the 10 wards in the town.[2] It is currently controlled by the Liberal Democrats, led by Ann-Marie Barker.[3] The borough council is based at Woking Civic Offices.[4]
Woking Local Board was established in 1893.[5] Such local boards became urban districts in December 1894 under the Local Government Act 1894, and so the local board was replaced by Woking Urban District Council. The urban district was significantly enlarged in 1907 when it absorbed Horsell parish and again in 1933 when it absorbed Byfleet and Pyrford parishes.[6][7]
On 1 April 1974, the district became a non-metropolitan district, altering its powers and responsibilities, although keeping the same area.[9] The reformed district was also awarded borough status at the same time, with the council thereafter being called Woking Borough Council.[10]
In May 2023, a government review revealed that the council would have debts of £2.4 billion by 2026, 100 times the size of its annual £24 million budget, including investments in hotels and residential skyscrapers, and a £6.4 million loan to a local private school.[11] Risky property deals, also carried-out by other local authorities such as Thurrock, Croydon, and Slough over the previous 5 years, were attempts to offset the impact of UK Government funding cuts.[12] The Minister for Local Government Lee Rowley announced that the council was to be overseen by a team of expert commissioners until the council could "address their commercial and financial challenges, and make transformative change across its entire operations."[13]
On 7 June 2023, Woking Council issued a Section 114 notice after forecasting a deficit of £1.2 billion for the year ending 31 March 2024 due to losses on risky investments involving hotels and skyscrapers instigated by a former Conservative administration.[14]
^Curley, Rebecca (17 December 2019). "Woking council slammed for lending £11 million to private school". SurreyLive. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
^"Ministers step in at Woking council as debts forecast to reach £2.4bn | Local government | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
^Rowley, Lee (25 May 2023). "Local Government Update". Written Questions, Answers and Statements (UIN HCWS813) – via UK Parliament.
^Partington, Richard; correspondent, Richard Partington Economics (7 June 2023). "Woking council declares bankruptcy with £1.2bn deficit". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
December 07, 2023
woking, borough, council, local, authority, borough, woking, county, surrey, england, council, consists, councillors, three, each, wards, town, currently, controlled, liberal, democrats, marie, barker, borough, council, based, woking, civic, offices, typetypen. Woking Borough Council is the local authority for the borough of Woking in the county of Surrey England The council consists of 30 councillors three for each of the 10 wards in the town 2 It is currently controlled by the Liberal Democrats led by Ann Marie Barker 3 The borough council is based at Woking Civic Offices 4 Woking Borough CouncilTypeTypeNon metropolitan district councilHistoryFounded1 April 1974LeadershipLeaderAnn Marie Barker Liberal Democrat since 23 May 2022 1 StructureSeats30 councillorsPolitical groupsAdministration Liberal Democrats 20 Other parties Conservative 4 Independent 3 Labour 3 Length of term4 yearsElectionsLast election5 May 2023Meeting placeWoking Civic OfficesWebsitehttps www woking gov uk History editWoking Local Board was established in 1893 5 Such local boards became urban districts in December 1894 under the Local Government Act 1894 and so the local board was replaced by Woking Urban District Council The urban district was significantly enlarged in 1907 when it absorbed Horsell parish and again in 1933 when it absorbed Byfleet and Pyrford parishes 6 7 The first woman elected to the council was Elizabeth Balfour in 1919 8 On 1 April 1974 the district became a non metropolitan district altering its powers and responsibilities although keeping the same area 9 The reformed district was also awarded borough status at the same time with the council thereafter being called Woking Borough Council 10 In May 2023 a government review revealed that the council would have debts of 2 4 billion by 2026 100 times the size of its annual 24 million budget including investments in hotels and residential skyscrapers and a 6 4 million loan to a local private school 11 Risky property deals also carried out by other local authorities such as Thurrock Croydon and Slough over the previous 5 years were attempts to offset the impact of UK Government funding cuts 12 The Minister for Local Government Lee Rowley announced that the council was to be overseen by a team of expert commissioners until the council could address their commercial and financial challenges and make transformative change across its entire operations 13 On 7 June 2023 Woking Council issued a Section 114 notice after forecasting a deficit of 1 2 billion for the year ending 31 March 2024 due to losses on risky investments involving hotels and skyscrapers instigated by a former Conservative administration 14 See also editWoking Borough Council electionsReferences edit Council minutes 23 May 2022 PDF Woking Borough Council Retrieved 11 September 2022 Your Councillors by Ward Woking Borough Council Retrieved 2 September 2022 New council leader talks of ambitious plans for the borough Woking News and Mail 27 May 2022 Retrieved 2 September 2022 Full Refurbishment of Woking Borough Council Civic Offices Gloucester Square Woking RKG Partnership Retrieved 2 September 2022 Annual Report of the Local Government Board London Her Majesty s Stationery Office 1894 p 293 Retrieved 11 September 2022 Relationships and changes Woking UD through time A Vision of Britain through Time Retrieved 5 September 2022 Woking Urban District Council The National Archives Retrieved 5 September 2022 Lady Elizabeth Edith Betty Balfour nee Lytton 1867 1942 Exploring Surrey s Past Retrieved 8 September 2022 The English Non metropolitan Districts Definition Order 1972 legislation gov uk Retrieved 5 September 2022 District Councils and Boroughs Parliamentary Debates Hansard 28 March 1974 Retrieved 5 September 2022 Curley Rebecca 17 December 2019 Woking council slammed for lending 11 million to private school SurreyLive Retrieved 25 May 2023 Ministers step in at Woking council as debts forecast to reach 2 4bn Local government The Guardian amp theguardian com Retrieved 25 May 2023 Rowley Lee 25 May 2023 Local Government Update Written Questions Answers and Statements UIN HCWS813 via UK Parliament Partington Richard correspondent Richard Partington Economics 7 June 2023 Woking council declares bankruptcy with 1 2bn deficit The Guardian ISSN 0261 3077 Retrieved 7 June 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Woking Borough Council amp oldid 1181499205, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
