Local Government
From SR
Roles
Local Government affects everyone's lives. Local councils provide a wide range of services, like emptying bins, maintaining highways, running education, social services, parks and gardens.
The Department for Communities and Local Government is responsible for national policy on local government in England. That includes:
- how it is set up
- what it does
- how well it works
- how it is funded
All day-to-day services - as well as local matters in your area - are run by your local authority. This includes setting and collecting council tax.
Structure
The structure of local government varies from area to area in England. In some there are two layers or tiers - a district council and a county council. In others there is just one - a unitary authority.
Local Resilience Forums (LRFs) are the principle mechanism for multi-agency co-operation at the local level.
In addition there could be a town or parish council, covering a much smaller area.
Councils are also run in different ways. You might have a directly elected Mayor, for example, with a cabinet.
Reporting Hierarchy
In London each borough is a unitary authority, with the Greater London Authority - the Mayor and Assembly - providing strategic, city-wide government.
The City of London Corporation provides local government services for the financial and commercial heart of Britain, the 'Square Mile'.
