Sophie Stowers explains the different structures of local government in England, Scotland and Wales. She also sets out how local councils work, what services they provide, how they are funded, and when they are elected.
Local government structures in the UK are pretty messy. There are some 12,000 local councils, ranging from small parish and community boards to large Combined Authority Areas, covering some of the most populus cities in the country. These numerous authorities co-exist and often overlap, with groups of smaller councils subsumed under County Councils, or grouped together to form combined mayoral authorities. Some councils have leaders, others have directly elected mayors – not to be confused with metro mayors, Lord Mayors, or the Mayor of London.
The article attempts to explain the various layers of local government in England, Scotland and Wales, clarify what they do and how they’re funded. It also touches on the role of councillors, and how local elections in Great Britain work.