There have previously been a number of local authorities responsible for the Enfield area. The current local authority was first elected in 1964, a year before formally coming into its powers and prior to the creation of the London Borough of Enfield on 1 April 1965. Enfield replaced the Municipal Borough of Southgate, the Municipal Borough of Enfield and the Municipal Borough of Edmonton. It was envisaged through the London Government Act 1963 that Enfield as a London local authority would share power with 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 local authorities responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and refuse collection. As an outer London borough council it has been an education authority since 1965. This arrangement lasted until 1986 when Enfield London Borough Council gained responsibility for some services that had been provided by the Greater London Council, such as waste disposal. 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. In 2014 Enfield was the subject of a series of articles in the Guardian about housing policies.
Powers and functions
The local authority derives its powers and functions from the London Government Act 1963 and subsequent legislation. Enfield has the powers and functions of a London borough council. It is a billing authority collecting Council Tax and business rates, it processes local planning applications, it is responsible for housing, waste collection and environmental health. It is a local education authority, responsible for social services, libraries and waste disposal. The council shares responsibility with the Greater London Authority for strategic policies including housing, planning and the environment.
In May 2020, during an interview with the Enfield Independent, Labour Leader Nesil Caliskan said local authorities faced a “catastrophe” if the budget gaps they had identified due to Covid-19 were not met with Government support. However, it was announced on the 1 July 2020, Caliskan had proposed to increase councillor allowances by £159, up to a maximum of £7,608, and create a new cabinet member post. It came on the same day Labour leader Keir Starmer warned of a "black hole of around £10 billion in council finances. On 2 July 2020, Enfield London Borough Council passed the payrise for its own members with strong opposition from other political parties.
