With less than 10,000 residents and nearly 400,000 people travelling into the City daily for work, the City of London is a very unique local authority.

The City of London Corporation combines its ancient and ceremonial functions with the role of a modern and efficient local authority. As well as the typical local government services the City’s other duties include:

• The Barbican
• Three wholesale food markets (Billingsgate, Spitalfields and Smithfield)
• Port Health Authority for the whole of the Thames tidal estuary
• Hamstead Heath (and other open spaces)
• The Old Bailey

The City Corporation provides a wide range of other services to the residents and workers it serves. It (principally through the Lord Mayor and Chairman of Policy and Resources) speaks up internationally for UK based financial and professional services businesses. It manages thousands of acres of open space within the City and beyond (eg Hampstead Heath, Epping Forest, Burnham Beeches) as well as three markets (Smithfield for meat, Billingsgate for fish and New Spitalfields for fruit and vegetables). The City Corporation also manages the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre, the Barbican Centre and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, as well as running its own police force, the leading national police force for dealing with economic crime.

Electoral reform

The City of London gave a number of parliamentary undertakings to secure wider electoral reform than was provided for in the City of London (Ward Elections) Act, the legislation promoted by the City Corporation to change the City’s electoral system. These included a commitment to review the boundaries of the four residential Wards to preserve their residential character, and a further pledge to review the boundaries of the remaining Wards.

The first boundary review was undertaken in 2003 and as part of that process, the City of London Corporation reduced the number of its Members (Common Councilmen). The second review took place in 2010 and was completed in November that year with the new boundaries coming into effect from 2013, the year the next full Ward elections are to be held.

A number of other City Wards also have their own websites. To access the existing sites, please go to www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/wards

A font of knowledge on Livery Companies as well as an interactive map of livery halls, ask the Livery Committee.

Visit the City of London website to see the services it provides.

Address

Guildhall
PO Box 270
London
EC2P 2EJ

View a map showing how to find us.

Telephone

Telephone us on 020 7606 3030, our lines are open Monday to Friday between 9:30 and 17:00.

Email

Email us at contact@broadstreetward.org.uk and we will endeavour to respond within 5 business days.