691:
providing services such as education, health care, public safety, transportation, and social services. They also have the power to levy taxes and fees to fund these services. County councils are typically responsible for maintaining roads, bridges, and other infrastructure within their county. They also have the power to pass laws and regulations that affect the county. County councils are typically responsible for providing services to their constituents, such as libraries, parks, and other recreational facilities. County councils are also responsible for providing services to the elderly, disabled, and other vulnerable populations. County councils are typically responsible for providing services to the environment, such as water and air quality, and for protecting natural resources. County councils are also responsible for providing services to businesses, such as economic development and job training.
517:. Following invitations from central government in 2007, a number of county councils and their associated districts examined ways in which local government provision could be rationalised, mainly in the form of abolishing the existing county and district councils and establishing one-tier authorities for all or parts of these existing counties. As a result, the status of some of these (mainly) more rural counties changed. Cornwall, Durham, Northumberland, Shropshire and Wiltshire became unitary authorities providing all services. Some of these councils have dropped the word "county" from their titles.
277:
347:
variety of functions including education (schools and youth services), social services, highways, fire and rescue services, libraries, waste disposal, consumer services and town and country planning. Until the 1990s they also ran colleges of further education and the careers services. That decade also saw the privatisation of some traditional services, such as highway maintenance, cleaning and school meals.
375:). The first elections to the councils were held at various dates in January 1889, and they served as "provisional" or shadow councils until 1 April, when they came into their powers. Elections of all councillors and half of the aldermen took place every three years thereafter. The areas over which the councils had authority were designated as
601:. This was a body of the principal landowners liable to pay land tax, and was unelected. The first elections to Scottish county councils took place in February 1890. Only the councillors for the "landward" part of the county were elected however. The remainder of the council were co-opted by the town councils of the
690:
A county council is a type of local government that is responsible for providing services to a specific county or region. It is typically composed of elected officials who are responsible for making decisions about the county's budget, infrastructure, and services. County councils are responsible for
387:
by the same act. County borough councils were independent of the council for the county in which they were geographically situated, and exercised the functions of both county and district councils. The new system was a major modernisation, which reflected the increasing range of functions carried out
346:
In
England county councils were introduced in 1889, and reformed in 1974. Since the mid-1990s a series of local government reorganisations has reduced the number of county councils as unitary authorities have been established in a number of areas. County councils are very large employers with a great
525:
county councils were abolished with more than one unitary council established within the boundaries of the abolished council. Other county councils remained unchanged, particularly in the heavily populated parts of
England such as the south-east. Further minor local government reforms took place in
221:
the power to dissolve councils if he was satisfied that "the duties of a local council are not being duly and effectually discharged". He could order new elections to be held, or transfer the power and properties of the council "to any body or persons or person he shall think fit". The power was
331:
councils had different powers and different memberships. Following local government reforms in the 1970s, county councils no longer exist in
Scotland or Northern Ireland. In England they generally form the top level in a two-tier system of administration; in Wales they are unitary authorities.
681:
From 1 April 1974 the number of counties and county councils was reduced to eight in number. Like the county councils introduced in
England at the same time, the whole council was elected every four years. There was a slightly different division of powers between county and district councils,
605:
in the county. Scottish county councils also differed from those in
England and Wales as they were required to divide their county into districts. A district committee of the county councillors elected for the area were an independent local council for some administrative purposes.
217:) and passed their powers to the county councils. At the following election all county councils were to be increased: the number of extra councillors was to be twice the number of abolished rural districts. The act set out the powers and duties of county councils and also gave the
617:
became independent of the county for most purposes. The district committees created in 1890 were abolished and replaced by district councils, partly consisting of county councillors and partly of directly elected district councillors. Two joint county councils were created, for
408:
were abolished: workhouses were taken over by the county councils as public assistance institutions, and county councils also assumed responsibility for former poor law infirmaries, and fever hospitals. County councils also took charge of highways in rural districts.
456:
councils, with increased powers, were created. The post of county alderman was abolished, and the entire council was thereafter directly elected every four years. In 1986 the six metropolitan county councils were abolished, with their functions transferred to the
153:, each returning a single councillor for a three-year term. In addition urban districts were to form electoral divisions: depending on population they could return multiple county councillors. The county councils were also to consist of "additional members":
840:), "(1) On the establishment day a council shall stand established in each of the administrative counties established by section 9 and each such council shall consist of a cathaoirleach and councillors". Enacted on 21 December 1993. Act of the
172:
The first county council elections were held on 6 April 1899, and the first business of their inaugural meetings being the appointment of additional members. The triennial elections were postponed in 1914 on the outbreak of
126:
and county at large presentment sessions were transferred to the new councils. Principal among these duties were the maintenance of highways and bridges, the upkeep and inspection of lunatic asylums and the appointment of
192:
to county councils, elected from multi-member electoral areas. Only one election was under the new system before independence, held in
January 1920 (in urban areas) and on 2 June 1920 (in rural areas), during the
553:) introduced, ensuring Unionist controlled councils in counties with Nationalist majorities. In 1968 Fermanagh County Council was reconstituted as a unitary authority. County councils were abolished under the
392:. A major accretion of powers took place when education was added to county council responsibilities in 1902. County councils were responsible for more strategic services in a region, with (from 1894) smaller
546:
724:
Both
Swedish and Norwegian county councils are directly elected by their inhabitants as it is also the case in Romania during local elections. There are some differences between them in responsibilities.
469:
whose remit was to conduct a review of the structure of local administration, and the introduction of unitary authorities where appropriate. Accordingly, the number of county councils was reduced:
222:
widely used by ministers of all parties. For example, Kerry County
Council was dissolved from 1930 to 1932, and from 1945 to 1948, with commissioners appointed to perform the council's function.
59:, which can extended for a second four-year term. It is common for members of a county council to also hold seats in municipal councils, but very rare that they also hold legislative (
493:
county council became a unitary authority, renamed the "Isle of Wight
Council". Conversely, two unitary district councils added the word "county" to their titles to become "
713:
165:
member. Where the chairman had already been elected to the council or was disqualified, the RDC was to appoint another member of their council to be an additional member.
209:
inherited the local authorities created by the United
Kingdom legislation. The first elections after independence were held on 23 June 1925, following amendments by the
514:
666:
Prior to 1996 local government in Wales was similar to that in England. Thus the county councils introduced in 1889 were identical to their English counterparts. The
51:). The county council sets the scope of the county municipal activity. The council is led by the Chairman of the County Council, more commonly called a County Mayor (
437:
510:
319:
was enacted. As stipulated in the Act, duties of the county councils include approving the county budget, levying local taxes and enacting local ordinances.
218:
145:
The Irish county councils differed in constitution from those in Great Britain. Most of the council was directly elected: each county was divided by the
93:
The county councils created under British rule in 1899 continue to exist in Ireland, although they are now governed under legislation passed by the
428:. Greater London was declared to be an "area" and not to lie in any county. In addition two pairs of administrative counties were merged to become
466:
682:
however. The county and district councils were abolished twenty-two years later, when the present system of principal areas was introduced.
554:
181:
328:
81:
created in 1837. Starting in 1964, members of the county councils were appointed by the municipal councils. In 1975, the first general
984:
444:
completely reorganised local authorities in England and Wales. County boroughs were abolished and the whole of England (apart from
1101:
667:
1080:
1068:
578:
574:
740:
489:
County Council was re-established. The reforms somewhat blurred the distinction between county and district council. The
119:
115:
833:
393:
376:
341:
226:
146:
1038:
655:
582:
549:, abolishing proportional representation. Electoral districts were redrawn, and a property qualification for voters (
265:
658:
as either "county councils" or "county borough councils". County and county borough councils have identical powers.
371:, chosen by the council itself. There was one county alderman for every three councillors (one for every six in the
748:
261:
245:
951:
The Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely Order (SI 1964/366), The Huntingdon and Peterborough Order 1964 (SI 1964/367)
542:
429:
253:
249:
798:
558:
56:
837:
744:
230:
794:
526:
2019–20, which led to Dorset and Buckinghamshire also becoming unitary authorities providing all services.
44:
433:
225:
The number of county councils was increased from 27 to 29 in 1994 when County Dublin was split under the
185:
150:
699:
The term county council is sometimes used in English for regional municipal bodies in other countries.
413:
960:
790:
703:
671:
462:
441:
401:
356:
210:
194:
98:
1145:
647:
609:
In 1930 the Scottish county councils were completely reconstituted. Their powers were increased in
586:
257:
189:
71:
598:
280:
276:
537:
Following partition, six administrative counties remained within the United Kingdom as part of
478:
425:
135:
585:
was introduced. Regions were themselves abolished in 1996 and replaced by the current unitary
417:
372:
1015:
458:
449:
379:. The writ of the county councils did not extend everywhere: large towns and some historic
363:
c. 41), largely taking over the administrative functions of the unelected county courts of
139:
8:
1093:
991:
453:
292:
921:
845:
802:
752:
474:
405:
36:
1034:
651:
634:. The county councils also gained the duties of the abolished education authorities.
389:
367:. County councils consisted of councillors, directly elected by the electorate; and
538:
380:
364:
360:
260:; and the city and county councils of Limerick and Waterford were merged to create
206:
64:
972:
815:
Quirke, Michael P (1999). "Centenary of Local Government – Kerry County Council".
168:
The council could also co-opt one or two additional members for a three-year term.
1028:
288:
985:"Rutland County Council District Council Constitution, accessed March 10, 2008"
486:
445:
397:
384:
132:
1139:
675:
623:
550:
498:
490:
470:
214:
518:
238:
973:
The Isle of Wight (Structural Change) Order 1994, accessed January 9, 2011
118:
introduced county councils to Ireland, with a lower tier of governance of
614:
610:
307:
was promulgated in April 1950. County councils were established in 1951.
174:
836:, s. 11: Establishment of councils of administrative counties (
841:
631:
619:
482:
160:
157:
The chairman of each rural district council in the county was to be an
123:
94:
70:
The (elected) county mayor should not be confused with the (appointed)
55:). Members of the council are elected for a four-year term through the
674:
recommended a reduction in the number of county councils in Wales and
1125:
907:
890:
767:
421:
404:
considerably increased the powers of county councils. Primarily, the
327:
County councils were formed in the late 19th century. In the various
573:
county councils existed from 1890 to 1975. They were created by the
412:
In 1965 there was a reduction in the number of county councils. The
27:. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries.
570:
522:
368:
82:
60:
678:
from thirteen to seven, but reform did not take place until 1974.
597:
In Scotland, control of county administration was in the hands of
1016:
County of Herefordshire District Council, accessed March 10, 2008
494:
128:
1033:. Dublin: Institute of Public Administration. pp. 460–462.
581:. County councils were abolished in 1975 when a system of large
448:) was placed in a two-tier arrangement with county councils and
23:
is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a
534:
County councils existed in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 1973.
305:
Outline for Implementing Local Autonomy for Cities and Counties
248:, the number of county councils was again reduced: a merger of
234:
24:
16:
Elected administrative body governing an area known as a county
557:
in 1973. The only local authorities since that date have been
122:. The administrative and financial business carried by county
643:
627:
602:
287:
In Taiwan, a county council is the legislative body of each
515:
Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007
793:, s. 72: Power to dissolve a local authority (
213:. The act abolished rural district councils (except in
541:. Local government came under the control of the
131:. The new bodies also took over some duties from
1137:
1123:"Plan to Merge Welsh Counties into Five Areas".
497:County Council District Council" and "County of
400:councils responsible for other activities. The
138:in relation to diseases of cattle and from the
1026:
291:. Members of the councils are elected through
555:Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972
547:Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1922
745:61 & 62 Vict., c. 37 of 1898, s. 83
577:and reconstituted forty years later by the
329:constituent countries of the United Kingdom
158:
865:. LONDON: George Newnes. pp. 189–191.
452:councils. In the six largest conurbations
1098:Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 (c. 19)
1027:Callanan, Mark; Keogan, Justin F (2003).
856:
854:
781:Local Government (Ireland) Act 1919, c.19
747:). Enacted on 12 August 1898. Act of the
797:). Enacted on 26 March 1925. Act of the
275:
63:) or other government office, without a
1030:Local Government in Ireland: Inside Out
874:
872:
860:
504:
438:Local Government Commission for England
1138:
851:
814:
743:, s. 83: Officers of county (
1094:"Schedule I: The New Principal Areas"
668:Local Government Commission for Wales
43:) is the highest governing body of a
1081:Local Government (Scotland) Act 1929
1069:Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889
869:
579:Local Government (Scotland) Act 1929
575:Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889
355:County councils were created by the
77:The county council has its roots in
1054:"Scotch County Council Elections".
863:'County' in Chambers's Encyclopedia
741:Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898
529:
513:took place in April 2009 under the
182:Local Government (Ireland) Act 1919
116:Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898
97:, with the principal act being the
85:were held for the county councils.
13:
834:Local Government (Dublin) Act 1993
694:
436:under recommendations made by the
342:List of county councils in England
310:
227:Local Government (Dublin) Act 1993
200:
147:Local Government Board for Ireland
14:
1157:
322:
266:Waterford City and County Council
942:London Government Act 1963, c.33
888:"The County Council Elections".
685:
262:Limerick City and County Council
246:Local Government Reform Act 2014
1116:
1086:
1074:
1062:
1047:
1020:
1009:
977:
966:
954:
945:
936:
933:Local Government Act 1929, c.17
927:
915:
898:
511:wave of local government reform
298:
254:South Tipperary County Councils
911:. 21 January 1889. p. 10.
894:. 14 January 1889. p. 10.
881:
878:Local Government Act 1888 c.41
827:
808:
784:
775:
758:
734:
646:has been divided into unitary
543:Parliament of Northern Ireland
430:Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely
1:
1058:. 7 February 1890. p. 7.
728:
656:legislation that created them
545:, who quickly introduced the
219:Minister for Local Government
35:In Norway, a county council (
661:
592:
388:by local government in late
350:
151:district electoral divisions
109:
7:
564:
467:Local Government Commission
434:Huntingdon and Peterborough
186:proportional representation
10:
1162:
771:. 7 April 1899. p. 8.
714:County councils of Romania
414:London Government Act 1963
339:
335:
104:
88:
961:Local Government Act 1985
791:Local Government Act 1925
704:County Councils of Sweden
672:Local Government Act 1958
463:Local Government Act 1992
442:Local Government Act 1972
402:Local Government Act 1929
357:Local Government Act 1888
271:
229:into three new counties:
211:Local Government Act 1925
195:Irish War of Independence
120:urban and rural districts
99:Local Government Act 2001
30:
805: on 2 February 2009.
637:
258:Tipperary County Council
190:single transferable vote
142:to regulate explosives.
905:"The County Councils".
848: on 8 January 2022.
654:were designated by the
599:Commissioners of Supply
377:administrative counties
281:Changhua County Council
57:general local elections
861:Edwards, John (1955).
485:were abolished, while
479:Hereford and Worcester
461:and joint boards. The
426:Greater London Council
284:
231:Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown
159:
40:
1102:The National Archives
844:. Retrieved from
838:No. 31 of 1993, s. 11
801:. Retrieved from
751:. Retrieved from
613:. On the other hand,
459:metropolitan boroughs
373:London County Council
279:
140:justices of the peace
795:No. 5 of 1925, s. 72
670:appointed under the
505:21st-century reforms
317:Local Government Act
295:held every 4 years.
501:District Council".
454:metropolitan county
416:abolished those of
406:Boards of Guardians
244:In 2014, under the
136:boards of guardians
45:county municipality
922:Education Act 1902
846:Irish Statute Book
817:The Kerry Magazine
803:Irish Statute Book
753:Irish Statute Book
652:Principal councils
465:established a new
381:counties corporate
285:
718:consilii județene
583:regional councils
559:district councils
390:Victorian Britain
383:were constituted
361:51 & 52 Vict.
256:created a single
79:Amtsformandskabet
1153:
1131:
1130:
1120:
1114:
1113:
1111:
1109:
1090:
1084:
1078:
1072:
1066:
1060:
1059:
1051:
1045:
1044:
1024:
1018:
1013:
1007:
1006:
1004:
1002:
996:
990:. Archived from
989:
981:
975:
970:
964:
958:
952:
949:
943:
940:
934:
931:
925:
919:
913:
912:
902:
896:
895:
885:
879:
876:
867:
866:
858:
849:
831:
825:
824:
812:
806:
788:
782:
779:
773:
772:
762:
756:
738:
539:Northern Ireland
530:Northern Ireland
424:and created the
365:quarter sessions
207:Irish Free State
188:by means of the
164:
65:leave of absence
1161:
1160:
1156:
1155:
1154:
1152:
1151:
1150:
1146:County councils
1136:
1135:
1134:
1122:
1121:
1117:
1107:
1105:
1092:
1091:
1087:
1079:
1075:
1067:
1063:
1053:
1052:
1048:
1041:
1025:
1021:
1014:
1010:
1000:
998:
997:on 3 March 2009
994:
987:
983:
982:
978:
971:
967:
959:
955:
950:
946:
941:
937:
932:
928:
920:
916:
904:
903:
899:
887:
886:
882:
877:
870:
859:
852:
832:
828:
813:
809:
789:
785:
780:
776:
764:
763:
759:
739:
735:
731:
697:
695:Other countries
688:
664:
648:principal areas
640:
595:
567:
532:
507:
385:county boroughs
369:county aldermen
353:
344:
338:
325:
313:
311:1999 to present
301:
293:local elections
274:
250:North Tipperary
203:
201:1922 to present
112:
107:
91:
72:county governor
33:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1159:
1149:
1148:
1133:
1132:
1129:. 25 May 1961.
1115:
1085:
1073:
1061:
1046:
1039:
1019:
1008:
976:
965:
953:
944:
935:
926:
914:
897:
880:
868:
850:
826:
807:
783:
774:
757:
732:
730:
727:
722:
721:
711:
696:
693:
687:
684:
663:
660:
639:
636:
594:
591:
566:
563:
531:
528:
506:
503:
487:Worcestershire
446:Greater London
398:rural district
394:urban district
352:
349:
340:Main article:
337:
334:
324:
323:United Kingdom
321:
312:
309:
300:
297:
273:
270:
202:
199:
170:
169:
166:
111:
108:
106:
103:
90:
87:
53:fylkesordfører
32:
29:
21:county council
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1158:
1147:
1144:
1143:
1141:
1128:
1127:
1119:
1103:
1099:
1095:
1089:
1082:
1077:
1070:
1065:
1057:
1050:
1042:
1040:1-902448-93-6
1036:
1032:
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1017:
1012:
993:
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980:
974:
969:
962:
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948:
939:
930:
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918:
910:
909:
901:
893:
892:
884:
875:
873:
864:
857:
855:
847:
843:
839:
835:
830:
822:
818:
811:
804:
800:
796:
792:
787:
778:
770:
769:
761:
754:
750:
749:UK Parliament
746:
742:
737:
733:
726:
719:
715:
712:
709:
705:
702:
701:
700:
692:
686:United States
683:
679:
677:
676:Monmouthshire
673:
669:
659:
657:
653:
649:
645:
635:
633:
629:
625:
624:Kinross-shire
621:
616:
612:
607:
604:
600:
590:
588:
587:council areas
584:
580:
576:
572:
562:
560:
556:
552:
551:Plural voting
548:
544:
540:
535:
527:
524:
520:
516:
512:
502:
500:
499:Herefordshire
496:
492:
491:Isle of Wight
488:
484:
480:
476:
473:, Berkshire,
472:
468:
464:
460:
455:
451:
447:
443:
439:
435:
431:
427:
423:
419:
415:
410:
407:
403:
399:
396:councils and
395:
391:
386:
382:
378:
374:
370:
366:
362:
358:
348:
343:
333:
330:
320:
318:
308:
306:
296:
294:
290:
282:
278:
269:
267:
263:
259:
255:
251:
247:
242:
240:
236:
232:
228:
223:
220:
216:
215:County Dublin
212:
208:
198:
196:
191:
187:
183:
178:
176:
167:
163:
162:
156:
155:
154:
152:
148:
143:
141:
137:
134:
130:
125:
121:
117:
102:
100:
96:
86:
84:
80:
75:
73:
68:
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62:
58:
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50:
49:fylkeskommune
46:
42:
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28:
26:
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1124:
1118:
1106:. Retrieved
1097:
1088:
1076:
1064:
1055:
1049:
1029:
1022:
1011:
999:. Retrieved
992:the original
979:
968:
956:
947:
938:
929:
917:
906:
900:
889:
883:
862:
829:
820:
816:
810:
786:
777:
766:
760:
736:
723:
717:
707:
698:
689:
680:
665:
641:
615:large burghs
611:small burghs
608:
596:
568:
536:
533:
519:Bedfordshire
508:
411:
354:
345:
326:
316:
315:In 1999 the
314:
304:
302:
299:1950 to 1999
286:
243:
239:South Dublin
224:
204:
179:
171:
144:
124:grand juries
113:
92:
78:
76:
69:
52:
48:
34:
20:
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765:"Ireland".
642:Since 1996
184:introduced
175:World War I
842:Oireachtas
823:(10): 4–6.
799:Oireachtas
729:References
632:Nairnshire
620:Perthshire
509:A further
483:Humberside
161:ex officio
95:Oireachtas
41:Fylkesting
1126:The Times
1108:9 January
1056:The Times
908:The Times
891:The Times
768:The Times
708:landsting
475:Cleveland
422:Middlesex
110:1899–1922
83:elections
37:Norwegian
1140:Category
1001:11 March
571:Scotland
565:Scotland
523:Cheshire
450:district
283:building
133:poor law
129:coroners
61:Storting
662:History
593:History
495:Rutland
351:History
336:England
105:History
89:Ireland
1104:. 1994
1083:, c.25
1071:, c.50
1037:
963:, c.51
924:, c.42
603:burghs
440:. The
418:London
289:county
272:Taiwan
235:Fingal
31:Norway
25:county
995:(PDF)
988:(PDF)
644:Wales
638:Wales
628:Moray
149:into
1110:2011
1035:ISBN
1003:2008
630:and
626:and
622:and
521:and
481:and
471:Avon
432:and
420:and
303:The
264:and
252:and
237:and
205:The
180:The
114:The
569:In
1142::
1100:.
1096:.
871:^
853:^
819:.
650:.
589:.
561:.
477:,
268:.
241:.
233:,
197:.
177:.
101:.
74:.
67:.
39::
19:A
1112:.
1043:.
1005:.
821:1
755:.
720:)
716:(
710:)
706:(
359:(
47:(
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