The Local Government Act 1972, implemented in 1974, set up a two-tier structure of local government across most of England and Wales. Functions were divided between the tiers depending on how they could be carried out most efficiently. County councils were given the responsibility for services including waste disposal, social services, libraries and strategic planning, whereas local authority districts were responsible for local planning, housing, local highways, environmental health, refuse collection and cemeteries.[1]
Local government was reorganised again during the 1990s in the wake of the Local Government Commission for England (1992) report, the key recommendation of which was the introduction of single-tier unitary authorities with responsibility for all areas of local government. In essence they were to provide a single authority for small counties where division into districts would be impractical, but the two-tier system was retained in much of the country.[1]
The Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 divided Wales into 22 unitary authorities, known as principal councils,[2] and the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 determined that from 1 April 1996 Scotland would also be divided into unitary authorities, known simply as councils.[3] As of March 2025, there are 62 unitary authorities in England, 22 in Wales and 32 in Scotland.[4]
Despite the name, a unitary authority may not be the only administrative authority in its area, which may contain one or more civil parishes
Smallest administrative unit in England. with responsibility for maintaining local assets such as village halls and leisure facilities, and the maintenance of public footpaths. Holmes Chapel
Built-up area and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East., for instance, is a civil parishSmallest administrative unit in England. within the unitary authority of Cheshire East.