In a political year once again dominated by Brexit, local councils have continued to feel the squeeze from fresh budget pressures and increased demand for their services.

Away from the national scene, in May, thousands of people turned out to vote in a local election that saw the Conservatives return to Bexley Council with a strong majority.

London is growing quickly, and outer London boroughs such as Bexley have also had to navigate huge planning applications that are often supported by Sadiq Khan, as City Hall looks to plug the housing deficit.

Bexley is no different, already looking for new ways to balance its books and support the most vulnerable in society who need extra help, whilst looking to support its ambitious growth strategy for 31,000 homes by 2050.

As we head into the new year we take a look back at some of the biggest political headlines in Bexley this year.

Wilde Road

Bexley Council tried twice to secure planning permission for a dozen flats on two small parcels of land in Erith. Furious residents campaigned long and hard against the schemes, with a petition backed by hundreds of people calling for the plans to be dropped.

Councillors eventually voted against the council’s own proposals, claiming the packed estate would not be able to handle the extra traffic 12 flats would bring.

Residents celebrated in the public gallery when they realised their campaign had been successful – but plans are on the horizon for a scaled back application to be published by the council in the Spring.

SEN transport

Bexley Council agreed this year to introduce a £400 charge for families with special needs or disabled teenagers who need extra help getting to school.

The council’s top team controversially agreed to introduce a 10 per cent levy towards the cost of travel assistance for post-16s with special educational needs or disabilities – a service that is currently free.

The council faced an overspend of £655k for the travel assistance budget – leading to it proposing a contribution from September 2019.

Bexley taxpayers currently cover the costs which is on average £4,861 a year.

Labour took aim at the policy, claiming the £400 charge would be unsustainable for struggling families.

Hall Place set for major revamp – but there’s a catch

The council revealed this year it is planning major investment into Hall Place in Crayford, but says a charge may need to be brought in for visitors wanting to explore the historic gardens.

Proposals for a major £600k investment – including a new park, visitor hub and an artisan market – were put to councillors in the autumn.

The council took over control of Hall Place last year and has been looking to cut costs while attracting more visitors through one-off exhibitions.

Under the new scheme, hoped to plug some of the attraction’s £240k deficit, residents could be charged up to £2 to wander the gardens – something that is currently free

Also planned for the Grade I listed mansion is a major revamp of the visitors area, including a new cafe, along with a new playground similar to the scale of Belvedere Beach, which opened last year.

£9m budget gap

Difficult decisions and years of uncertainty are ahead as Bexley Council deals with a multi-million-pound budget gap.

The council, like those around the country, has had its cash from Westminster cut dramatically – with more than 50 per cent lost since 2010.

Officers are confident they have identified ways to plug next year’s budget gap, but warned there are years of uncertainty ahead from 2020.

Bexley Civic Centre Bexley Civic Centre

In line for savings are community libraries, outreach workers, Friends of Parks groups and a major revamp of social care.

The council’s latest accounts show an £8.8m budget gap for next year, a figure which currently increases to £36.6m by 2022.

Bexley Council has dozens of proposed savings ideas which will be debated and consulted on before a final budget is given the go-ahead in March.

Civic Centre proposals given green light

Controversial plans for the former civic centre near Bexleyheath Broadway were given the nod of approval this year despite concerns from residents and councillors.

Councillors were left “disappointed” after controversial plans for a 13-storey housing development at the old Civic Centre were green-lit in June.

First submitted in December, the planning application from developer Bellway Homes is expected to generate an extra £790,000 in council tax and a £3.1 million bonus to the council for new homes.

Six new buildings and 500 homes will eventually be built on the site despite concerns that high rise density was not suitable for the town centre.

Councillors blasted Sadiq Khan’s London Plan, which supported schemes such as Bellway’s for Bexleyheath.

The civic centre site has been empty since 2014, and has been owned by Tesco and Sports Direct since then.

The application included affordable – not social – housing, as well as 208 parking spaces.