Local Government

Question 1

What is a unitary authority?

Answer 1

Any authority which is the sole principal council for its local government area

Question 2

Number of local authorities in England?

Answer 2

329

Question 3

5 types of local authorities?

Answer 3

County councils
District councils
Unitary authorities
Metropolitan districts
London boroughs

Question 4

What are two tier arrangements?

Answer 4

Two-tier arrangements mean council services are delivered by a combination of
a) a county council (“upper tier”) and b) one or more district councils. (“lower tier”).

Question 5

Single tier arrangements?

Answer 5

There are 56 unitary authorities. They provide all local government services in their areas. These are mainly in the cities, urban areas and larger towns.
There are also six shire county councils that are unitary (i.e. they have no district councils beneath them e.g. Durham and Cornwall).

Question 6

Metropolitan districts?

Answer 6

There are 36 of them - they cover the counties of Greater Manchester, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear, West Midlands, West Yorkshire.

Responsible for all service in that area.

Question 7

Combined Authorities?

Answer 7

A combined authority can be set up by two or more local authorities.
The government devolves various powers and funding to an area so councils can work together to make collective decisions.
A combined authority does not replace the existing local authorities. They work together to deliver specific functions.
There are 10 of them: Greater Manchester, North East, West Midlands, Tees Valley, West Yorkshire, Liverpool city region, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, North of Tyne, South Yorkshire, West of England.

Question 8

Advantages of two-tier arrangements?

Answer 8

• The council is closer to the community – why? Because they are delivering services to a smaller group of residents. Think of Lancashire County Council delivering a particular service to the whole of Lancashire compared with 12 smaller councils delivering the service only to the area they are responsible for.
• A smaller group allows councillors to have a better idea of the needs of a community.
• Services can be tailored more precisely when a community is better known and its needs are easier to identify.
• Election turnout improved - democratic stimulus – if people have a sense that their vote can change things, they are more likely to turn out at local elections.

Question 9

Disadvantages of two-tier arrangements?

Answer 9

• Two-tier arrangements can seem complex to some people;
• Residents may be confused by the division of responsibilities - who do I call when the pavement is damaged? Or the street light is broken?
• There can sometimes be overlap and duplication in services if responsibilities are not clear in each of the tiers.
• There can be duplication of staff/resources, making both less cost-effective.
• Economies of scale - buying and delivering resources in bulk can be cheaper than individual councils doing their own thing. Greater discount, more negotiating power with contracts.