▁last ed ▁until ▁ 1 9 8 6 ▁when ▁King ston ▁upon ▁Th ames ▁London ▁Bor ough ▁Council ▁gained ▁responsibility ▁for ▁some ▁services ▁that ▁had ▁been ▁provided ▁by ▁the ▁Gre ater ▁London ▁Council , ▁such ▁as ▁waste ▁dispos al . ▁Since ▁ 2 0 0 0 ▁the ▁Gre ater ▁London ▁Author ity ▁has ▁taken ▁some ▁responsibility ▁for ▁high ways ▁and ▁planning ▁control ▁from ▁the ▁council , ▁but ▁within ▁the ▁English ▁local ▁government ▁system ▁the ▁council ▁remains ▁a ▁" most ▁purpose " ▁authority ▁in ▁terms ▁of ▁the ▁available ▁range ▁of ▁powers ▁and ▁functions . ▁ ▁Pow ers ▁and ▁functions ▁The ▁local ▁authority ▁der ives ▁its ▁powers ▁and ▁functions ▁from ▁the ▁London ▁Government ▁Act ▁ 1 9 6 3 ▁and ▁subsequent ▁legisl ation . ▁King ston ▁upon ▁Th ames ▁has ▁the ▁powers ▁and ▁functions ▁of ▁a ▁London ▁bor ough ▁council . ▁It ▁is ▁a ▁b illing ▁authority ▁collect ing ▁Council ▁Tax ▁and ▁business ▁rates , ▁it ▁processes ▁local ▁planning ▁applications , ▁it ▁is ▁responsible ▁for ▁housing , ▁waste ▁collection ▁and ▁environmental ▁health . ▁It ▁is ▁a ▁local ▁education ▁authority , ▁responsible ▁for ▁social ▁services , ▁libraries ▁and ▁waste ▁dispos al . ▁The ▁council ▁shares ▁responsibility ▁with ▁the ▁Gre ater ▁London ▁Author ity ▁for ▁strateg ic ▁policies ▁including ▁housing , ▁planning ▁and ▁the ▁environment . ▁ ▁Fin ances ▁King ston ▁upon ▁Th ames ▁London ▁Bor ough ▁Council ▁is ▁the ▁b illing ▁authority ▁for ▁Council ▁Tax , ▁and ▁collect s ▁a ▁pre cept s ▁on ▁beh alf ▁of ▁the ▁Mayor ' s ▁Office ▁for ▁Pol icing ▁and