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Year 2 UK Politics > Local Gov > Flashcards

Local Gov Flashcards

1
Q

Describe the central gov

A
  • 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
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2
Q

Describe local gov

A
  • 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
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3
Q

What are the types of local authority?

A
  • Two tier authorities
  • Unitary authorities
  • Hybrid authorities
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4
Q

Describe a two tier authority

A
  • 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
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5
Q

In a two tier council, what is the county responsible for?

A 
	Education
	Transposrt
	Planning
	Fire and public safety
	Social care
	Libraries
	Waste management 
	Trading standards
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6
Q

In a two tier council, what are the district/boroughs responsible for?

A 
	Rubbish collection 
	Recycling 
	Council tax collections
	Housing 
	Planning applications
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7
Q

Describe a unitary authority

A
  • 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
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8
Q

Describe a parish council

A

-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

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9
Q

What does the exec, cabinet do in a council?

A

 Makes policy decisions

 Made up of senior councillors

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10
Q

What do non-exec councillors do?

A

 Elected members who scrutinise cabinet decisions and represent local electors (like MPs)

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11
Q

Who and what do officers do in a council?

A

 Unelected experts who advise and implement decisions

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12
Q

Describe the council leader system

A
  • 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
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13
Q

What is a directly elected mayor?

A
  • Voted in by local electorate
  • May be a party candidate or independent
  • Chair and appoint the cabinet
  • Major decision-maker
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13
Q

What is a directly elected mayor?

A
  • Voted in by local electorate
  • May be a party candidate or independent
  • Chair and appoint the cabinet
  • Major decision-maker
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14
Q

What is a ceremonial mayor?

A
  • 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.
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14
Q

What is a ceremonial mayor?

A
  • 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.
15
Q

What is the Greater London Assembly?

A

Has responsibility for transport, policing, fire and emergency services, planning, and economic development

16
Q

Which 4 bodies do the Greater London Assembly exercise these power through?

A
  • TFL
  • Mayor’s Office for policing and crime- oversees Met Office
  • London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority
  • GLA land and property
17
Q

What is TFL responsible for?

A

Most of Greater London’s transport, including roads

18
Q

What is the councillors’ code of conduct?

A
  • Treat others with respect
  • Not bring the name of their authority into dispute
  • Ensure that they don’t disclose info given in confidence
19
Q

What else must councillors do?

A

-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

20
Q

Describe a council election

A
  • 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
21
Q

Describe the cabinet/exec system

A
  • 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
22
Q

Describe scrutiny/select committees

A
  • 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
23
Q

Describe regulatory committees

A
  • 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

Year 2 UK Politics (10 decks)

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