Local government

The contemporary structure and purpose of local government in the UK has evolved in a piecemeal fashion over the last four hundred years. However its nature (and structure) has changed dramatically since 1979 as it has been subject to over 140 majors Acts of Parliament that have affected the responsibilities, boundaries, financing and organisation of local government making it almost unrecognisable from 20 years ago.

Local, as opposed to national, government in the UK can be broadly categorised as falling into one of three broad categories; Shire Areas Metropolitan and Unitary Areas and Borough, City and Town Councils. Shire areas comprise county councils (such as Hampshire County Council), District Councils (such as Mendip District Council) and Parish Councils. Metropolitan Councils are councils that provide all the services in a given area and would include the six metropolitan areas of West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Tyne and Wear, West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire. Borough, City and Town Councils would include Unitary Councils created following the Review of Local Government (for example Portsmouth and Brighton and Hove), the London Boroughs (32 in total) and Joint Boards such as The City of London Corporation.

Given this somewhat complex arrangement it is worthwhile noting that the main divisions between these categories or tiers of local government can be expressed in terms of their responsibilities. County Councils are responsible, for each county, for the provision of strategic planning and services such as education, each county is divided into districts which oversee and provide more local services. The "lowest" tier is that of Parish councils, so called because their boundaries equate to ecclesiastical parish coundaries. Parish councils deal with the most local of issues in a detailed manner, it is worthwhile noting that elected representatives, councillors, may well serve on parish, district and county councils.

The Local Government Commission for England (LGCE) is a government body charged with the responsibility of conducting periodic electoral reviews and structural reviews in England. The electoral reviews take place every 10 to 15 years in an effort to ensure that there is even representation of electors by councillors in county, district, parish, town or London Borough council whilst taking full account of local circumstances. Where necessary or appropriate electoral boundaries are redrawn to reflect changing population patterns.

Between 1992 and 1995 the LGCE reviewed the structure of all local government in the shire counties. It was charged with deciding, following review and public consultation whether a "two tier" structure (county and district councils) was more or less appropriate than a "single tier" or unitary structure for the provision of all local services. As a result of the commissions deliberations 46 new unitary authorities were created in England. A summary of the changes to local government structure in the Trans Manche Area as a result of the review is contained in Table 1.