Unit 8 - Local Government Scene and Structure Flashcards
What fundamental change to the power of local government did the Coalition Government make? What stories may emerge from this?
Local authorities have been given the general power of competence – to do anything that is specifically not illegal. This is likely to result in more local initiatives and community action – purchase of local amenities (pubs, stores), local referendums, local planning initiatives, etc.
Name the three structures of local government to be found in England.
Two-tier (county and district); unitary (single tier); hybrid(mixture).
Describe the two-tier structure, indicating the division of services between the tiers. Give an example of where such a structure may be found
Two-tier has a county council (top tier) and a number of district councils (second tier). Each authority is autonomous and separately elected. The county council is responsible for: children’s services, adult social services, libraries, highways, transport, traffic, refuse disposal, trading standards, registration (births, deaths & marriages), economic development, planning (minerals and waste), grants to voluntary bodies, fire and rescue, emergency planning, arts, recreation and leisure. District council is responsible for: council tax and non-domestic rates collection, housing, local plans and planning applications, economic development, refuse collection, environmental health, licensing, urban roads, on & off street parking, registration – electoral, grants to voluntary bodies, arts, recreation, leisure. To be found in parts of shire England – e.g. West Sussex County Council and Arun District Council.
Describe the unitary structure, indicating who will provide the services. Who will be responsible for the fire and rescue service? Give examples of where such a structure may be found.
Unitary is a single-tier structure where one authority is responsible for all local services (except fire). Fire and rescue will be the responsibility of a joint board or joint authority. Unitary authorities are to be found in metropolitan areas (e.g. Birmingham), parts of shire England (e.g. West Berkshire),Wales.
Describe the hybrid structure, indicating who will provide the services. Give an example of where such a structure may be found.
Hybrid is a mixture of two-tier and unitary. There will be a county council and district councils and also one or two unitary authorities. The division of service responsibility will be the same as for the two-tier and unitary. This structure is to be found in shire England – e.g. Hampshire is all two tier except for Portsmouth and Southampton.
Outline the key issues raised by the different structures.
Key issues (these might be identified) – two-tier: overlap and duplication of services; unaccountability of local government; rural power and lack of public identity; YET closer to the people. Unitary: too small (unitary districts); too large (unitary counties). Hybrid: worst of all worlds.
Briefly indicate the role of Local Enterprise Partnerships.
Local enterprise partnerships are joint public sector / private sector bodies that are responsible for driving economic development in their area. They bid for government and European Union money which may be used for infrastructure schemes, training programmes, establishing enterprise zones.
What are combined authorities and why have they been introduced?
Local authorities in England may, with central government approval, group together under a directly elected executive mayor and become a combined authority. The combined authority will get extra powers devolved from central government. The powers that may be devolved will differ depending on the size of the authority but may well include more power over planning, economic development, traffic and highways, health and social care and even setting and retaining business rates. The individual authorities will remain and they will continue to administer the same services as did previously but, jointly they will get additional powers.
Explain the ceremonial titles that are used with local authorities.
City, Borough Council:
- ceremonial titles that show the authority has been given Royal Charter by Privy Council
- ceremonial mayor/Lord mayor, no chairman
- may be second-tier, metropolitan district or unitary authority
Town Council:
- ceremonial title - mayor, not chairman
- usually has powers of a parish council
Outline what a parish council is.
Parish councils share powers with district/unitary councils. In Wales they are called community councils. Parish councils are responsible for services such as allotments, benches, car parks, street lighting, village halls and cemeteries.
