The 2022 Bromley London Borough Council election is due to take place on 5 May 2022. All 58 members of Bromley London Borough Council will be elected.
In the 2018 election, the Conservatives won 50 out of the 60 seats with Labour forming the primary opposition with eight of the remaining seats. Independents won the other two.
Along with most other London boroughs, Bromley was subject to a boundary review ahead of the 2022 election. The 2022 election will take place under new election boundaries, which will reduce the number of councillors from 60 to 58.
The new boundaries consist of one single-member ward, six two-member wards and fifteen three-member wards
What are the Councils’ responsibilities
Councils are responsible for:
- Education services
- Youth and leisure facilities
- Planning decisions, for example, if your neighbour wanted to build an extension on their home
- Social housing
- Managing parks and other public places
- Social services such as foster care, help for people with disabilities, or care for the elderly
- Local roads and footpaths
- Rubbish and recycling
- Libraries
- Checking up on and supporting local businesses
- Registering voters and running elections
Who represents you in your local council?
The people elected to represent you in your local council are called local councillors.
You and others in your area elect them for a four year period. The area covered by your local council is divided into smaller areas called wards. Chislehurst has three ward councillor’s entitling you the three votes.
What do Councillors actually do?
A councillor’s primary role is to represent their ward and the people who live in it. They are expected to: respond to resident’s queries and investigate their concerns (casework). Councillors also provide a bridge between the community and the council. As well as being an advocate for local residents and signposting them to the right people at the council, they need to keep the community informed about the issues that affect them.
Many councillors work full or part-time in other jobs on top of their work as a councillor.
You can contact your local councillors to ask them questions about what’s happening in your area or express a concern you may have. You can usually find their contact details on your council’s website.
You could also attend a council meeting in the public gallery at your local town or city hall and watch how decisions are made.
How do I vote?
You need to be registered to vote before you can vote in UK elections or referendums.
If you’re eligible, you can vote in person on the day of the election at a named polling station. You can also apply for a postal or proxy vote instead.
You can vote when you’re:
- 18 years old in England and Northern Ireland
- 16 years old in Scottish Parliament and local elections (and other elections when you’re 18)
- 16 years old in Welsh Parliament elections (and other elections when you’re 18)
To register to vote click here: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
For more information on Bromley, elections and voting please go to: https://www.bromley.gov.uk/info/200033/elections_and_voting
Whatever your politics, it’s so important to remember that local elections give you the chance to have your say about the issues that matter to you, as well as the opportunity to help choose who represents your local community. The council manages and runs services you use daily! Have a say in your community and make your voice heard!
Mike Jack
Chislehurst Matters
23rd Feb 2022