Unitary authority

In 1974, a two-tier administrative structure was established in England and Wales with functions allocated at the level at which they could be practised most efficiently.

The two tiers are:

• County councils, responsible for services across an entire county, such as education and health.
• District, borough or city councils, covering a smaller area and responsible for local services such as rubbish collection, housing and planning applications.

The local government reorganisation in the 1990s, introduced unitary authorities. These are single-tier administrations with responsibility for all aspects of local government in their area. Between 1995 and 1998 unitary authorities were established in a number of areas, in particular in medium-sized urban areas, with further reorganisation taking place in 2009.

Parish, community and town councils operate at a level below district and borough councils and in some cases, unitary authorities.

In London and metropolitan areas, some services are provided through ‘joint authorities’.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Building control body.
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• Composition of UK construction industry 2013.
• Construction industry institutes and associations.
• Government departments responsibility for construction.
• Local authority.
• Local government.
• Local planning authority
• Localism act.
• Neighbourhood planning.
• Planning authority.
• UK.