Finchley Borough Council
| Finchley | |
|---|---|
 Finchley within Middlesex in 1961 |
|
| Area | |
| • 1901 | 3,384 acres (13.7 km2) |
| • 1961 | 3,477 acres (14.1 km2) |
| Population | |
| • 1901 | 22,126 |
| • 1961 | 69,370 |
| History | |
| • Created | 1878 |
| • Abolished | 1965 |
| • Succeeded by | London Borough of Barnet |
| Status |
Local Government District (1878-1895) Urban district (1895 - 1933) Municipal borough (1933 - 1965) |
| Government | Finchley Local Board Finchley Urban District Council Finchley Borough Council |
| • HQ | Finchley |
| • Motto | Regnant Qui Serviunt (They rule who serve) |
 Coat of arms of Finchley Borough Council |
|
Finchley was a local government district in Middlesex, England, from 1878 to 1965. It formed part of the northern suburbs of London and was within the Metropolitan Police District and London Passenger Transport Area. Its former area now forms part of the London Borough of Barnet.
The parish of Finchley had no local government in the modern sense until the nineteenth century. The parish initially resisted adopting the Local Government Act 1858 and forming a local board to govern the town on grounds of cost. However, this meant that the area was grouped with a number of other parishes under the control of Barnet Rural Sanitary Authority in 1873.
It was the fear of losing power over local administration to Barnet that was to lead the ratepayers of Finchley to adopt the 1858 legislation. Finchley Local Board was formed in 1878, consisting of twelve members. There was tension between the ratepayers of North Finchley and the wealthier Church End area as those owning more property had more votes under the weighted voting system used. A proposal to merge with the neighbouring Friern Barnet Local Government District in 1881 was not carried out.
The Local Government Act 1894 redesignated various urban local government areas as urban districts, and replaced local boards with directly elected urban district councils. The tension that had existed in the local board continued among the twelve-member council until the urban district was divided into three wards (East, North and West), each electing four councillors, in 1898.
In 1926 consideration was first given to applying for a charter of incorporation to create Finchley a municipal borough. This was in response to fears that the area would be absorbed by the County of London, or lose powers to Middlesex County Council. Application was not made until March 1932, however, when a petition to the privy council was made by the inhabitant householders of the urban district. The petition was successful, and on 5 October 1933, the charter was presented to the Charter Mayor, councillor Vyvyan Wells by the Earl of Athlone.
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