Functions and Powers
| Arrangement | Upper tier authority | Lower tier authority |
|---|---|---|
| Shire counties | waste management, education, libraries, social services, transport, strategic planning, consumer protection, police, fire | housing, waste collection, council tax collection, local planning, licensing, cemeteries and crematoria |
| Unitary authorities |
housing, waste management, waste collection, council tax collection, education, libraries, social services, transport, planning, consumer protection, licensing, cemeteries and crematoria†, police and fire come under shire councils | |
| Metropolitan counties | housing, waste collection, council tax collection, education, libraries, social services, transport, planning, consumer protection, licensing, police, fire, cemeteries and crematoria† | |
| Greater London | transport, strategic planning, regional development, police, fire | housing, waste collection, council tax collection, education, libraries, social services, local planning, consumer protection, licensing, cemeteries and crematoria† |
† = in practice, some functions take place at a strategic level through joint boards and arrangements
Councils also have a general power to "promote economic, social and environmental well-being" of their area. However, like all public bodies, they are limited by the doctrine of ultra vires, and may only do things that common law or an Act of Parliament specifically or generally allows for — in contrast to the earlier incorporated municipal corporations which were treated as natural persons and could undertake whatever activities they wished to. Councils may promote Local Acts in Parliament to grant them special powers. For example, Kingston upon Hull had for many years a municipally owned telephone company, Kingston Communications.
Read more about this topic: Local Government In England
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