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What is a council?

What is a council?. A tier of local government A large, geographically-defined, multi-functional organisation Provides local services to local people Has limited tax raising powers Is a democratically-elected organisation – in other words, councils are political

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What is a council?

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  1. What is a council? • A tier of local government • A large, geographically-defined, multi-functional organisation • Provides local services to local people • Has limited tax raising powers • Is a democratically-elected organisation – in other words, councils are political • 465 in total: 388 in England; 22 Wales; 29 Scotland; 26 Northern Ireland

  2. Local government – big business • Councils provide more than 700 different functions & services • Employ 2.5million people in 400 different occupations • Big spenders - £165billion in 2009/10 – a quarter of all public revenue expenditure • If ranked by expenditure, 100 councils would rank along side 500 top companies • 22,000 elected councillors – but only 650 MPs

  3. Why is it important? • Democratically-elected institutions – our political representatives at local level • Spend large sums of public money • Councillors decide and therefore have direct impact on key frontline services • Media has key role holding councils to account, scrutinising and challenging – checks and balances

  4. Types of council • County councils • District/borough councils • Unitary councils • Metropolitan councils • London boroughs All these are known as “principal local authorities”

  5. What do they do? County councils: (34 in England) • Education: schools; youth service; adult education; under-fives • Social services: children’s services + adult services • Waste disposal • Highways and transport • Strategic land use planning • Trading standards (consumer protection) • Libraries, galleries, museums, the arts • Counties operate with districts in what are called “two tier” areas

  6. Districts/Boroughs • Local planning (applications) • Waste collection • Housing (inc. homeless; some social housing) • On-street parking • Environmental health • Leisure facilities and culture: sports centres; parks; playing fields • Registering births,deaths and marriages • Collecting council tax (and sending out bills) • Electoral registration • Some may do work for counties under voluntary agreements – eg road maintenance and repairs

  7. Criticisms of two-tier* system • Perceived remoteness of county councils – particularly those covering large areas • Not easily understood by the public, who are confused about who does what • Serve diverse communities with disparate needs (eg coastal towns and urban conurbations) • Poor economies of scale – costly having two tiers of local government • * Areas with county councils (top tier) and district/borough councils (second tier)

  8. Unitary councils • Bring together all services (county + district) • Created to simplify structures • First set up in 1990s • Elections every four years • “Hybrid” structure in some areas: some unitaries exist within existing county boundaries (eg Kent)

  9. Most recent unitaries… • Seven created in 2009: • Cheshire*, Bedfordshire*, Cornwall, Northumberland, Durham, Shropshire and Wiltshire • Replaced 44 districts and counties, saving £100million • Affected 3.2million residents

  10. Unitaries…the pluses • Generally better understood by residents – one council for all services • Less complex in terms of decision-making • Provide better sense of “community identity” – better defined geographical area; less remote • More financially efficient (?)

  11. Metropolitan councils • 36 – covering main English cities (Leeds, Birmingham, Sheffield) • Effectively operate as unitary authorities • Elect third of councillors every year • Have ‘joint boards’ to oversee some services, eg transport, emergency services, waste

  12. Parish and town councils • Limited range of functions and powers • For example: • Bus shelters; footpaths; extra street lighting; public toilets;cemeteries; community halls • By law, have right to comment on planning applications in area • Can levy a precept to pay for services

  13. Councillors • Are the politically-elected representatives on councils • Decide on policy and take decisions on services and spending • Represent local wards or “divisions” – similar to MPs’ constituencies • Provide community leadership for area • Represent, be accountable for and act as advocate for their electors

  14. Councillors – old, white, male and irrelevant? • Male – 73 per cent • White – 97 per cent • Average age – 57 • Retired – 35 per cent • Private sector employed – 60 per cent

  15. Councillors • 13 per cent have children under age of 16 • 50 per cent have a degree or higher qualification • More women councillors than MPs • More women councillors than senior officers • Most spend an average 20 hours work a week on council business • Represent average of 3,020 constituents (France 118; Holland 1,713)

  16. But they are important… • Our democratically-elected representatives • Often wield more power than MPs • Take decisions on important services, the local economy and our money • Offer community and strategic leadership • Take up residents’ concerns • Have a watchdog role • Paid out of the public purse (allowances)

  17. The role of councillors • Executive councillors: Legal ability to make certain decisions, collectively or individually • Non-executive councillors: No decision-making powers but hold executive (cabinet to account) – a watchdog role All councillors are: • Residents’ advocates • Community advocates • Policy advocates

  18. Council officers • Paid, professional employees – unlike councillors, are not elected and are politically neutral • Deliver services in line with politicians’ priorities and budget • Responsible to the council rather than electorate • Can receive large salaries • Cabinet govt. means senior officers much closer to ruling political administration

  19. Key senior officers • The Chief Executive – head of paid service – most senior official • The Chief Financial Officer (aka finance director) • The Monitoring Officer • Director of Children’s Services • Most councils have a corporate board made up of senior officers

  20. The Chief Executive • Officer who heads the executive of the council, leads chief officers management team and advises councillors • Ensures council policy is implemented and will advise councillors of legality and feasibility of their policies/plans • May be the returning officer at election time • Is a politically-restricted post

  21. Mayors • Ceremonial figure-head for a council • No real powers • Chairs meetings of the full council • Represents council at civic functions • Usually wears chains of office • London and some cities have Lord Mayors (but do same job) • Elected by fellow councillors each year • Known as “chairmen” in county councils

  22. Student assignment, Jan 21/10 • What type of councils are there in your area? • Which party controls them? • How many residents do they serve? • Who is the council leader? • Who is the chief executive? • What parties are represented on the council? • When is the council(s) next election?

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