Local Authority

A Local Authority is an organisation that is officially responsible for all public services and faciltities in a particular area. They are multi purpose bodies responsible for delivering a broad range of services in relation to highways, planning, housing, economic and community development, environment, recreation and amenity services, fire services and maintaining a register of electors. Local Authorities can be Waste Collection Authorities and/or Waste Disposal Authorities.

Types of local government

Depending on where you live, local government consists of at least one or two tiers of authorities..

The two tier authorities are known as:

• County Councils - the 'upper tier authority' which acts as the Waste Disposal Authority and is also responsible for:
  • education
  • transport
  • planning
  • fire and public safety
  • social care
  • libraries
  • trading standards

• district, borough or city councils - the 'lower tier authority' which acts as the Waste Collection Authority and is also responsible for:
  • Council Tax collections
  • housing
  • planning applications

The single tier authorities are known as Unitary Authorities. In these areas the Unitary Council carries out all of the services and functions carried out by a County Council and the district or borough councils combined. Metropolitan boroughs, London boroughs and the two suis generis authorities of the City of London and Isles of Scilly also operate as Unitary Authorities.

England

Within England there are:

• 24 County Councils
• 181 district, borough or city councils
• 58 unitary councils
• 32 London boroughs
• 36 metropolitan boroughs
• City of London
• Isles of Scilly

Across England, there are also around 9,000 parish and town councils, 10 National Parks responsible for conservation and promotion of scenic areas, as well as local authorities responsible specifically for policing and fire and rescue services.

Since the passing of new legislation in 2009, there is an additional type of regional authority, Combined Authorities, where two or more councils collaborate and take collective decisions across council boundaries e.g. Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Scotland

Within Scotland there are 32 Unitary authorities.

Wales

Within Wales there are 22 Unitary authorities.

Northern Ireland

Within Northern Ireland there are 11 Unitary authorities although they do not carry out the same functions as the rest of the Councils in the United Kingdom for example they have no responsibility for education, road-building or housing (although they do nominate members to the advisory Northern Ireland Housing Council). Their functions include planning, waste and recycling services, leisure and community services, building control and local economic and cultural development. The collection of rates is handled centrally by the Land and Property Services agency of the Northern Ireland Executive

Funding of local government

Local authorities receive funding from a range of sources, including Government grants, council tax and fees and charges. Together, council tax and business rates make up local authorities’ largest source of income.

Local authority governance

In England, more than one million people work in local government across a range of different types of authorities, providing more than 800 different services to local communities. Local Authorites are made up of employed officials usually led by a Chief Executive Officer and councillors who are elected by the public in local elections.