Enfield London Borough Council

Enfield London Borough Council, which styles itself Enfield Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Enfield in Greater London, England, based at Enfield Civic Centre in Enfield Town. The council has been under Conservative minority administration following the 2026 election. Prior to this, it had been under Labour control since 2010.

Enfield London Borough Council
Coat of Arms
Type
Type	London borough council of the London Borough of Enfield
Houses	Unicameral
Leadership
Mayor	Emma Supple, Conservative since 27 May 2026
Leader	Alex Georgiou, Conservative since 27 May 2026
Chief Executive	Perry Scott since March 2025
Structure
Seats	63 councillors
Political groups	Administration (minority) (31)   Conservative (31) Opposition (32)   Labour (27)   Green (5)
Length of term	Whole council elected every four years
Elections
Voting system	Plurality at-large (FPTP)
Last election	7 May 2026
Next election	2 May 2030
Meeting place
Civic Centre, Silver Street, Enfield, EN1 3XA
Website
www.enfield.gov.uk

History

The first elected local authority for Enfield was a local board, established in 1850. Such boards were reconstituted as urban district councils under the Local Government Act 1894. Enfield was then incorporated to become a municipal borough in 1955, after which it was governed by a body formally called the "Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of the Borough of Enfield", generally known as the corporation or borough council.

The much larger London Borough of Enfield and its council were created under the London Government Act 1963, with the first election held in 1964. For its first year the council acted as a shadow authority alongside the area's three outgoing authorities, being the borough councils of Enfield, Edmonton and Southgate. The new council formally came into its powers on 1 April 1965, at which point the old boroughs and their councils were abolished. The council's full legal name is "The Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Enfield".

From 1965 until 1986 the council was a lower-tier authority, with upper-tier functions provided by the Greater London Council. The split of powers and functions meant that the Greater London Council was responsible for "wide area" services such as fire, ambulance, flood prevention, and refuse disposal; with the boroughs (including Enfield) responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and refuse collection. As an outer London borough council Enfield has been a local education authority since 1965. The Greater London Council was abolished in 1986 and its functions passed to the London Boroughs, with some services provided through joint committees.

Since 2000 the Greater London Authority has taken some responsibility for highways and planning control from the council, but within the English local government system the council remains a "most purpose" authority in terms of the available range of powers and functions.

Governance

The local authority derives its powers and functions from the London Government Act 1963 and subsequent legislation, and has the powers and functions of a London borough council. It sets council tax and as a billing authority also collects precepts for Greater London Authority functions and business rates. It sets planning policies which complement Greater London Authority and national policies, and decides on almost all planning applications accordingly. It is a local education authority and is also responsible for council housing, social services, libraries, waste collection and disposal, traffic, and most roads and environmental health.

Political control

The council has been under no overall control since 2026.

The first election was held in 1964, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until it came into its powers on 1 April 1965. Political control of the council since 1965 has been as follows:

Party in control		Years
	Labour	1965–1968
	Conservative	1968–1994
	Labour	1994–2002
	Conservative	2002–2010
	Labour	2010–2026
	No overall control	2026–present

Leadership

The role of Mayor of Enfield is largely ceremonial. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1965 have been:

Councillor	Party		From	To
Ted Graham		Labour	1965	1966
Eric Smythe		Labour	1966	1968
Alan Young		Conservative	1968	1987
John Lindsay		Conservative	1987	1988
Graham Eustance		Conservative	1988	1994
Jeff Rodin		Labour	1994	1999
Doug Taylor		Labour	1999	2002
Mike Rye		Conservative	2002	2010
Doug Taylor		Labour	2010	May 2018
Nesil Caliskan		Labour	23 May 2018	9 Aug 2024
Ergin Erbil		Labour	9 Aug 2024	27 May 2026
Alex Georgiou		Conservative	27 May 2026

Composition

Following the 2026 election, the composition of the council is as follows:

Party		Councillors
	Conservative	31
	Labour	27
	Green	5
Total		63

The next election is due in May 2030.

Wards

The wards of Enfield and the number of seats:

1. Arnos Grove (2)
2. Bowes (2)
3. Brimsdown (3)
4. Bullsmoor (2)
5. Bush Hill Park (3)
6. Carterhatch (2)
7. Cockfosters (2)
8. Edmonton Green (3)
9. Enfield Lock (3)
10. Grange Park (2)
11. Haselbury (3)
12. Highfield (2)
13. Jubilee (3)
14. Lower Edmonton (3)
15. New Southgate (2)
16. Oakwood (2)
17. Palmers Green (2)
18. Ponders End (2)
19. Ridgeway (3)
20. Southbury (3)
21. Southgate (3)
22. Town (3)
23. Upper Edmonton (3)
24. Whitewebbs (3)
25. Winchmore Hill (2)

Elections

See also: Enfield London Borough Council elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2022 the council has comprised 63 councillors representing 25 wards, with each ward electing two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.

Premises

The council is based at Enfield Civic Centre on Silver Street, which had originally been completed in 1961 for the old Enfield Borough Council. The building was later significantly extended with a 12 storey tower block, which was completed in 1975.

External links

• London Borough of Enfield website