Local Gov Flashcards
Describe the central gov
- Headed by PM, ministers and gov departments
- Responsible for national policies covering the whole country
- Responsible for the national strategy such as health, welfare the economy, police and security, education, defence
- Raises money through taxes levied on businesses and people
- Held accountable through parliament, elected by the public
Describe local gov
- Headed by council leaders directly elected by mayors, Metro Mayors and executive councillors
- Responsible for devising policies which affects a town, city, county, or region
- Responsible for the delivery of services such as education, social services, police and crime reduction- also for planning
- Spends money through grants from central gov and locally raised money
What are the types of local authority?
- Two tier authorities
- Unitary authorities
- Hybrid authorities
Describe a two tier authority
- Two separate authorities who run the services- e.g Preston City Council and Lancs County Council
- Responsibility is split between them
- Larger services such as education and social services are delivered by county councils
- Smaller services like planning applications, housing delivered by the city/district
- Counties and districts are politically independent of each other, and are elected separately
In a two tier council, what is the county responsible for?
Education Transposrt Planning Fire and public safety Social care Libraries Waste management Trading standards
In a two tier council, what are the district/boroughs responsible for?
Rubbish collection Recycling Council tax collections Housing Planning applications
Describe a unitary authority
- Local councils responsible for all local services
- Can be district or city councils e.g Liverpool, Sefton
- Or small counties e.g East and West Cheshire
- In Liverpool, an enquiry about education and planning will go to Lpool City Councils
- All councils in Scotland, Wales and NI, as well as some areas in England are unitary
Describe a parish council
-Lowest tier of local gov
-In areas of more than 150 inhabitants
-Right to be consulted on some planning applications
-Also responsible for issues concerning:
Allotments
Public clocks
Bus shelters
Community centres
Play areas and equipment
Grants to help local gov organisations
What does the exec, cabinet do in a council?
Makes policy decisions
Made up of senior councillors
What do non-exec councillors do?
Elected members who scrutinise cabinet decisions and represent local electors (like MPs)
Who and what do officers do in a council?
Unelected experts who advise and implement decisions
Describe the council leader system
- The Leader of the Council is chosen by councillors and is usually the leader of the largest party group on the council
- Appoints and chairs the cabinet, exec
- Political spokesperson for the authority
- The post has been scrapped in areas with a directly elected mayor
What is a directly elected mayor?
- Voted in by local electorate
- May be a party candidate or independent
- Chair and appoint the cabinet
- Major decision-maker
What is a directly elected mayor?
- Voted in by local electorate
- May be a party candidate or independent
- Chair and appoint the cabinet
- Major decision-maker
What is a ceremonial mayor?
- Another type of mayor is chosen by councillors
- Chairs Full Council meetings
- Has no political power and has symbolic ceremonial role
- Represents the borough or city on civic occasions
- Opens garden fetes, carnivals etc.
What is a ceremonial mayor?
- Another type of mayor is chosen by councillors
- Chairs Full Council meetings
- Has no political power and has symbolic ceremonial role
- Represents the borough or city on civic occasions
- Opens garden fetes, carnivals etc.
What is the Greater London Assembly?
Has responsibility for transport, policing, fire and emergency services, planning, and economic development
Which 4 bodies do the Greater London Assembly exercise these power through?
- TFL
- Mayor’s Office for policing and crime- oversees Met Office
- London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority
- GLA land and property
What is TFL responsible for?
Most of Greater London’s transport, including roads
What is the councillors’ code of conduct?
- Treat others with respect
- Not bring the name of their authority into dispute
- Ensure that they don’t disclose info given in confidence
What else must councillors do?
-Declare pecuniary interests at the start of meetings, e.g-
Employment
Contributions to election expenses
Shareholding of £25,000 or more
Land owned, leased or held under license
Membership or management of company, charity, trade union etc.
-Remove themselves from meetings when relevant item discussed
-Personal interests includes the councillor’s partner, family and friends
-Failure to declare a disclosable pecuniary interest in a criminal offence
Describe a council election
- Councillors are all elected for a four-year term
- Some councils elect all their councillors at the same time- other elect half or a third of their councillors at each election
- Unless there is a by-election
- Much more scope for independents to be successful
- Statutory review of polling districts and polling places every five years
Describe the cabinet/exec system
- Chaired and appointed by the Leader of the Council or the Directly Elected Mayor
- Up to 9 councillors controlling party that make major policy decisions
- Members of the cabinet will hold a portfolio and will be responsible for certain areas of the council’s work e.g housing, education, social care
- Make key decisions
- Meet approx. every 6 weeks
- Key decisions are published on website
Describe scrutiny/select committees
- Examine specific council policy proposal and/or individual spending departments e.g health
- Similar to Westminster style committees
- Monitors scrutinise what cabinet is doing
- Can “call in” contentious decisions
- No power to overturn decisions
- Can also conduct inquiries on major issues and make recommendations to the full council and cabinet
Describe regulatory committees
- Committees overseeing regulatory matters like planning and licensing
- Have delegated powers and can take some decisions- rejecting or approving
- Decisions on planning applications must be made according to planning regulations rather than party loyalties
- However, range referred to them limited
- Major decisions, e.g a new out of town superstore of housing estate, would have to go to full council
