City of London
The City of London Corporation is the municipal governing body of the City of London.
A uniquely diverse organisation, it is the world’s oldest continuously elected local government body. The City is divided into 25 wards, each of which is an electoral division. Each ward returns (as they have done for the last millennium) one Alderman and a number of Councilmen. The City is unique in the United Kingdom for having a mixed franchise – its electors consist both of local residents and local workers, balancing the interests of those who live here with those of the 300,000 people who come to work in the City every day.
As the local authority for the Square Mile, it has the same responsibilities as the London Boroughs – for example, planning, housing, licensing and social services.
In addition it provides valued services to London and the nation. These include the Barbican Centre and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama; the Guildhall Library and Art Gallery and the London Metropolitan Archive; a range of education provision (including three City Academies); five Thames bridges; the Central Criminal Court at the Old Bailey; over 4,500 hectares (11,000 acres) of green spaces (including Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest); and three wholesale food markets, along with the Grade II listed Leadenhall Market. In addition, as the police authority for the City of London the City Corporation exercises a governance role over the City of London Police, the country’s lead force on financial crime. It is London’s Port Health Authority and runs the Animal Reception Centre at Heathrow Airport.
The Corporation’s structure includes the Lord Mayor, the Court of Aldermen, the Court of Common Council and the Freemen and Livery of the City.
The voters of Cornhill Ward return three Councilmen and one Alderman.