Local authorities (LAs) are democratically elected bodies responsible for the delivery of a wide range of public services. They operate within powers laid down under various Acts of Parliament, with some mandatory functions (relating, e.g., to education and housing) and others discretionary (such as economic development). The Local Government Act 2000 clarified the legal framework for local authorities and widened the scope for local authorities to develop their community leadership role, in providing a power to promote the economic, social and environmental well-being of their area.
Local authority services include: education, libraries and museums; transport planning and road repairs; social services; housing; land use planning; refuse collection and waste management; trading standards; environmental health; parks and open spaces. Unitary authorities are responsible for all such services, while in ‘two-tier’ areas, these are split between County and District Councils.
