Local and Regional Governments in Europe
CEMR_structures_and_competences_2016_EN
CEMR_structures_and_competences_2016_EN
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United K<strong>in</strong>gdom<br />
The United K<strong>in</strong>gdom is a unitary state<br />
with certa<strong>in</strong> characteristics of a federal state, follow<strong>in</strong>g the implementation<br />
of the 1997 devolution agenda <strong>in</strong> Wales, Scotl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> Northern Irel<strong>and</strong>.<br />
State structure<br />
unitary<br />
Number of<br />
Sub-national governments<br />
2012 2016<br />
LOCAL 433 419<br />
REGIONAL 4 4<br />
Capital city<br />
London<br />
Population<br />
64,308,261 (12.7% EU)<br />
Geographical size<br />
248,528 km²<br />
Currency<br />
Pound Sterl<strong>in</strong>g (GBP)<br />
Vote<br />
non-compulsory<br />
EU Member State s<strong>in</strong>ce<br />
1973<br />
73<br />
Seats <strong>in</strong> the<br />
23<br />
Seats <strong>in</strong> the<br />
<strong>Europe</strong>an Parliament<br />
<strong>Europe</strong>an Committee<br />
of the Regions<br />
<strong>Local</strong> level 419 local authorities*<br />
In general, councillors are elected for<br />
a four-year term, based on either a<br />
first-past-the-post vot<strong>in</strong>g system or<br />
a proportional system.<br />
Engl<strong>and</strong> has 27 county councils, 36<br />
metropolitan district councils, 201<br />
non-metropolitan district councils<br />
(local authorities outside of big<br />
cities) <strong>and</strong> 56 unitary authorities (a<br />
one tier local authority). In the United<br />
K<strong>in</strong>gdom's capital city of London,<br />
there are 33 boroughs, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
City of London, which is the city’s<br />
f<strong>in</strong>ancial district.<br />
* See p.90<br />
Wales has 22 s<strong>in</strong>gle tier unitary<br />
authorities (county <strong>and</strong> county<br />
borough councils). These authorities<br />
deliver a wide range of services, such<br />
as hous<strong>in</strong>g, social services, transport<br />
<strong>and</strong> highways, environmental health,<br />
libraries, leisure <strong>and</strong> tourism. The 22<br />
exist<strong>in</strong>g s<strong>in</strong>gle-tier unitary authorities<br />
were established <strong>in</strong> 1996.<br />
Scotl<strong>and</strong> has 32 s<strong>in</strong>gle tier unitary<br />
authorities. In Scotl<strong>and</strong> delivery<br />
of services is becom<strong>in</strong>g more<br />
complex with Community Plann<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Partnerships br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g together by<br />
law the municipalities with the other<br />
Competences*<br />
<strong>Local</strong> competences are not uniform<br />
throughout the United K<strong>in</strong>gdom as<br />
they are wholly transferred (devolved)<br />
to Scotl<strong>and</strong>, while other arrangements<br />
are applied to Wales <strong>and</strong> Northern<br />
Irel<strong>and</strong>. English local governments<br />
rema<strong>in</strong> directly accountable to the<br />
UK government <strong>and</strong> parliament.<br />
There are two tiers of local<br />
government <strong>in</strong> parts of Engl<strong>and</strong><br />
(counties <strong>and</strong> districts) <strong>and</strong> a s<strong>in</strong>gle<br />
tier <strong>in</strong> other parts of Engl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> all of<br />
Scotl<strong>and</strong>, Wales <strong>and</strong> Northern Irel<strong>and</strong><br />
(councils).<br />
85
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