702:
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.
528:. 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.
288:
358:
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.
386:). 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
612:. 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
701:
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
398:
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
357:
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
536:
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
232:
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
342:
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.
692:
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,
616:
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.
228:) 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
628:
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
419:
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.
467:
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
164:, 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":
851:), "(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
183:
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
137:
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
203:
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
564:) 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
403:. 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
557:
735:
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.
480:
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:
233:
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.
70:, 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 (
504:
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 "
724:
176:
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.
220:
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
525:
677:
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
62:). 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 (
448:
521:
330:
was enacted. As stipulated in the Act, duties of the county councils include approving the county budget, levying local taxes and enacting local ordinances.
229:
156:
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
104:
The county councils created under British rule in 1899 continue to exist in Ireland, although they are now governed under legislation passed by the
439:. 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
477:
693:
however. The county and district councils were abolished twenty-two years later, when the present system of principal areas was introduced.
565:
192:
339:
92:
created in 1837. Starting in 1964, members of the county councils were appointed by the municipal councils. In 1975, the first general
995:
455:
completely reorganised local authorities in England and Wales. County boroughs were abolished and the whole of England (apart from
1112:
678:
1091:
1079:
589:
585:
751:
500:
County Council was re-established. The reforms somewhat blurred the distinction between county and district council. The
130:
126:
844:
404:
387:
352:
237:
157:
1049:
666:
593:
560:, abolishing proportional representation. Electoral districts were redrawn, and a property qualification for voters (
276:
17:
669:
as either "county councils" or "county borough councils". County and county borough councils have identical powers.
382:, chosen by the council itself. There was one county alderman for every three councillors (one for every six in the
759:
272:
256:
962:
The Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely Order (SI 1964/366), The Huntingdon and Peterborough Order 1964 (SI 1964/367)
553:
440:
264:
260:
809:
569:
67:
848:
755:
241:
805:
537:
2019–20, which led to Dorset and Buckinghamshire also becoming unitary authorities providing all services.
55:
444:
236:
The number of county councils was increased from 27 to 29 in 1994 when County Dublin was split under the
196:
161:
710:
The term county council is sometimes used in English for regional municipal bodies in other countries.
424:
971:
801:
714:
682:
473:
452:
412:
367:
221:
205:
109:
1156:
658:
620:
In 1930 the Scottish county councils were completely reconstituted. Their powers were increased in
597:
268:
200:
82:
609:
291:
287:
548:
Following partition, six administrative counties remained within the United Kingdom as part of
489:
436:
146:
596:
was introduced. Regions were themselves abolished in 1996 and replaced by the current unitary
428:
383:
1026:
469:
460:
390:. The writ of the county councils did not extend everywhere: large towns and some historic
374:
c. 41), largely taking over the administrative functions of the unelected county courts of
150:
8:
1104:
1002:
464:
303:
932:
856:
813:
763:
485:
416:
47:
1045:
662:
645:. The county councils also gained the duties of the abolished education authorities.
400:
378:. County councils consisted of councillors, directly elected by the electorate; and
549:
391:
375:
371:
271:; and the city and county councils of Limerick and Waterford were merged to create
217:
75:
983:
826:
Quirke, Michael P (1999). "Centenary of Local Government – Kerry County Council".
179:
The council could also co-opt one or two additional members for a three-year term.
1039:
299:
996:"Rutland County Council District Council Constitution, accessed March 10, 2008"
497:
456:
408:
395:
143:
1150:
686:
634:
561:
509:
501:
481:
225:
529:
249:
984:
The Isle of Wight (Structural Change) Order 1994, accessed January 9, 2011
129:
introduced county councils to Ireland, with a lower tier of governance of
625:
621:
318:
was promulgated in April 1950. County councils were established in 1951.
185:
847:, s. 11: Establishment of councils of administrative counties (
852:
642:
630:
493:
171:
168:
The chairman of each rural district council in the county was to be an
134:
105:
81:
The (elected) county mayor should not be confused with the (appointed)
66:). Members of the council are elected for a four-year term through the
685:
recommended a reduction in the number of county councils in Wales and
1136:
918:
901:
778:
432:
415:
considerably increased the powers of county councils. Primarily, the
338:
County councils were formed in the late 19th century. In the various
584:
county councils existed from 1890 to 1975. They were created by the
423:
In 1965 there was a reduction in the number of county councils. The
38:. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries.
581:
533:
379:
93:
71:
689:
from thirteen to seven, but reform did not take place until 1974.
608:
In Scotland, control of county administration was in the hands of
1027:
County of Herefordshire District Council, accessed March 10, 2008
505:
139:
1044:. Dublin: Institute of Public Administration. pp. 460–462.
592:. County councils were abolished in 1975 when a system of large
459:) was placed in a two-tier arrangement with county councils and
34:
is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a
545:
County councils existed in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 1973.
316:
Outline for Implementing Local Autonomy for Cities and Counties
259:, the number of county councils was again reduced: a merger of
245:
35:
27:
Elected administrative body governing an area known as a county
568:
in 1973. The only local authorities since that date have been
133:. The administrative and financial business carried by county
654:
638:
613:
298:
In Taiwan, a county council is the legislative body of each
526:
Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007
804:, s. 72: Power to dissolve a local authority (
224:. The act abolished rural district councils (except in
552:. Local government came under the control of the
142:. The new bodies also took over some duties from
1148:
1134:"Plan to Merge Welsh Counties into Five Areas".
508:County Council District Council" and "County of
411:councils responsible for other activities. The
149:in relation to diseases of cattle and from the
1037:
302:. Members of the councils are elected through
566:Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972
558:Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1922
756:61 & 62 Vict., c. 37 of 1898, s. 83
588:and reconstituted forty years later by the
340:constituent countries of the United Kingdom
169:
876:. LONDON: George Newnes. pp. 189–191.
463:councils. In the six largest conurbations
1109:Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 (c. 19)
1038:Callanan, Mark; Keogan, Justin F (2003).
867:
865:
792:Local Government (Ireland) Act 1919, c.19
758:). Enacted on 12 August 1898. Act of the
808:). Enacted on 26 March 1925. Act of the
286:
74:) or other government office, without a
1041:Local Government in Ireland: Inside Out
885:
883:
871:
515:
449:Local Government Commission for England
14:
1149:
862:
825:
754:, s. 83: Officers of county (
1105:"Schedule I: The New Principal Areas"
679:Local Government Commission for Wales
54:) is the highest governing body of a
1092:Local Government (Scotland) Act 1929
1080:Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889
880:
590:Local Government (Scotland) Act 1929
586:Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889
366:County councils were created by the
88:The county council has its roots in
1065:"Scotch County Council Elections".
874:'County' in Chambers's Encyclopedia
752:Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898
540:
524:took place in April 2009 under the
193:Local Government (Ireland) Act 1919
127:Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898
108:, with the principal act being the
96:were held for the county councils.
24:
845:Local Government (Dublin) Act 1993
705:
447:under recommendations made by the
353:List of county councils in England
321:
238:Local Government (Dublin) Act 1993
211:
158:Local Government Board for Ireland
25:
1168:
333:
277:Waterford City and County Council
953:London Government Act 1963, c.33
899:"The County Council Elections".
696:
273:Limerick City and County Council
257:Local Government Reform Act 2014
1127:
1097:
1085:
1073:
1058:
1031:
1020:
988:
977:
965:
956:
947:
944:Local Government Act 1929, c.17
938:
926:
909:
522:wave of local government reform
309:
265:South Tipperary County Councils
922:. 21 January 1889. p. 10.
905:. 14 January 1889. p. 10.
892:
889:Local Government Act 1888 c.41
838:
819:
795:
786:
769:
745:
657:has been divided into unitary
554:Parliament of Northern Ireland
441:Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely
13:
1:
1069:. 7 February 1890. p. 7.
739:
667:legislation that created them
556:, who quickly introduced the
230:Minister for Local Government
46:In Norway, a county council (
672:
603:
399:by local government in late
361:
162:district electoral divisions
120:
7:
575:
478:Local Government Commission
445:Huntingdon and Peterborough
197:proportional representation
10:
1173:
782:. 7 April 1899. p. 8.
725:County councils of Romania
425:London Government Act 1963
350:
346:
115:
99:
972:Local Government Act 1985
802:Local Government Act 1925
715:County Councils of Sweden
683:Local Government Act 1958
474:Local Government Act 1992
453:Local Government Act 1972
413:Local Government Act 1929
368:Local Government Act 1888
282:
240:into three new counties:
222:Local Government Act 1925
206:Irish War of Independence
131:urban and rural districts
110:Local Government Act 2001
41:
816: on 2 February 2009.
648:
269:Tipperary County Council
201:single transferable vote
153:to regulate explosives.
916:"The County Councils".
859: on 8 January 2022.
665:were designated by the
610:Commissioners of Supply
388:administrative counties
292:Changhua County Council
68:general local elections
872:Edwards, John (1955).
496:were abolished, while
490:Hereford and Worcester
472:and joint boards. The
437:Greater London Council
295:
242:Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown
170:
51:
1113:The National Archives
855:. Retrieved from
849:No. 31 of 1993, s. 11
812:. Retrieved from
762:. Retrieved from
624:. On the other hand,
470:metropolitan boroughs
384:London County Council
290:
151:justices of the peace
806:No. 5 of 1925, s. 72
681:appointed under the
516:21st-century reforms
328:Local Government Act
306:held every 4 years.
512:District Council".
465:metropolitan county
427:abolished those of
417:Boards of Guardians
255:In 2014, under the
147:boards of guardians
56:county municipality
933:Education Act 1902
857:Irish Statute Book
828:The Kerry Magazine
814:Irish Statute Book
764:Irish Statute Book
663:Principal councils
476:established a new
392:counties corporate
296:
729:consilii județene
594:regional councils
570:district councils
401:Victorian Britain
394:were constituted
372:51 & 52 Vict.
267:created a single
90:Amtsformandskabet
18:County councillor
16:(Redirected from
1164:
1142:
1141:
1131:
1125:
1124:
1122:
1120:
1101:
1095:
1089:
1083:
1077:
1071:
1070:
1062:
1056:
1055:
1035:
1029:
1024:
1018:
1017:
1015:
1013:
1007:
1001:. Archived from
1000:
992:
986:
981:
975:
969:
963:
960:
954:
951:
945:
942:
936:
930:
924:
923:
913:
907:
906:
896:
890:
887:
878:
877:
869:
860:
842:
836:
835:
823:
817:
799:
793:
790:
784:
783:
773:
767:
749:
550:Northern Ireland
541:Northern Ireland
435:and created the
376:quarter sessions
218:Irish Free State
199:by means of the
175:
76:leave of absence
21:
1172:
1171:
1167:
1166:
1165:
1163:
1162:
1161:
1157:County councils
1147:
1146:
1145:
1133:
1132:
1128:
1118:
1116:
1103:
1102:
1098:
1090:
1086:
1078:
1074:
1064:
1063:
1059:
1052:
1036:
1032:
1025:
1021:
1011:
1009:
1008:on 3 March 2009
1005:
998:
994:
993:
989:
982:
978:
970:
966:
961:
957:
952:
948:
943:
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914:
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893:
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843:
839:
824:
820:
800:
796:
791:
787:
775:
774:
770:
750:
746:
742:
708:
706:Other countries
699:
675:
659:principal areas
651:
606:
578:
543:
518:
396:county boroughs
380:county aldermen
364:
355:
349:
336:
324:
322:1999 to present
312:
304:local elections
285:
261:North Tipperary
214:
212:1922 to present
123:
118:
102:
83:county governor
44:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1170:
1160:
1159:
1144:
1143:
1140:. 25 May 1961.
1126:
1096:
1084:
1072:
1057:
1050:
1030:
1019:
987:
976:
964:
955:
946:
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908:
891:
879:
861:
837:
818:
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768:
743:
741:
738:
733:
732:
722:
707:
704:
698:
695:
674:
671:
650:
647:
605:
602:
577:
574:
542:
539:
517:
514:
498:Worcestershire
457:Greater London
409:rural district
405:urban district
363:
360:
351:Main article:
348:
345:
335:
334:United Kingdom
332:
323:
320:
311:
308:
284:
281:
213:
210:
181:
180:
177:
122:
119:
117:
114:
101:
98:
64:fylkesordfører
43:
40:
32:county council
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1169:
1158:
1155:
1154:
1152:
1139:
1138:
1130:
1114:
1110:
1106:
1100:
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1088:
1081:
1076:
1068:
1061:
1053:
1051:1-902448-93-6
1047:
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1042:
1034:
1028:
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1004:
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991:
985:
980:
973:
968:
959:
950:
941:
934:
929:
921:
920:
912:
904:
903:
895:
886:
884:
875:
868:
866:
858:
854:
850:
846:
841:
833:
829:
822:
815:
811:
807:
803:
798:
789:
781:
780:
772:
765:
761:
760:UK Parliament
757:
753:
748:
744:
737:
730:
726:
723:
720:
716:
713:
712:
711:
703:
697:United States
694:
690:
688:
687:Monmouthshire
684:
680:
670:
668:
664:
660:
656:
646:
644:
640:
636:
635:Kinross-shire
632:
627:
623:
618:
615:
611:
601:
599:
598:council areas
595:
591:
587:
583:
573:
571:
567:
563:
562:Plural voting
559:
555:
551:
546:
538:
535:
531:
527:
523:
513:
511:
510:Herefordshire
507:
503:
502:Isle of Wight
499:
495:
491:
487:
484:, Berkshire,
483:
479:
475:
471:
466:
462:
458:
454:
450:
446:
442:
438:
434:
430:
426:
421:
418:
414:
410:
407:councils and
406:
402:
397:
393:
389:
385:
381:
377:
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369:
359:
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344:
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226:County Dublin
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113:
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107:
97:
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84:
79:
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73:
69:
65:
61:
60:fylkeskommune
57:
53:
49:
39:
37:
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1129:
1117:. Retrieved
1108:
1099:
1087:
1075:
1066:
1060:
1040:
1033:
1022:
1010:. Retrieved
1003:the original
990:
979:
967:
958:
949:
940:
928:
917:
911:
900:
894:
873:
840:
831:
827:
821:
797:
788:
777:
771:
747:
734:
728:
718:
709:
700:
691:
676:
652:
626:large burghs
622:small burghs
619:
607:
579:
547:
544:
530:Bedfordshire
519:
422:
365:
356:
337:
327:
326:In 1999 the
325:
315:
313:
310:1950 to 1999
297:
254:
250:South Dublin
235:
215:
190:
182:
155:
135:grand juries
124:
103:
89:
87:
80:
63:
59:
45:
31:
29:
776:"Ireland".
653:Since 1996
195:introduced
186:World War I
853:Oireachtas
834:(10): 4–6.
810:Oireachtas
740:References
643:Nairnshire
631:Perthshire
520:A further
494:Humberside
172:ex officio
106:Oireachtas
52:Fylkesting
1137:The Times
1119:9 January
1067:The Times
919:The Times
902:The Times
779:The Times
719:landsting
486:Cleveland
433:Middlesex
121:1899–1922
94:elections
48:Norwegian
1151:Category
1012:11 March
582:Scotland
576:Scotland
534:Cheshire
461:district
294:building
144:poor law
140:coroners
72:Storting
673:History
604:History
506:Rutland
362:History
347:England
116:History
100:Ireland
1115:. 1994
1094:, c.25
1082:, c.50
1048:
974:, c.51
935:, c.42
614:burghs
451:. The
429:London
300:county
283:Taiwan
246:Fingal
42:Norway
36:county
1006:(PDF)
999:(PDF)
655:Wales
649:Wales
639:Moray
160:into
1121:2011
1046:ISBN
1014:2008
641:and
637:and
633:and
532:and
492:and
482:Avon
443:and
431:and
314:The
275:and
263:and
248:and
216:The
191:The
125:The
580:In
1153::
1111:.
1107:.
882:^
864:^
830:.
661:.
600:.
572:.
488:,
279:.
252:.
244:,
208:.
188:.
112:.
85:.
78:.
50::
30:A
1123:.
1054:.
1016:.
832:1
766:.
731:)
727:(
721:)
717:(
370:(
58:(
20:)
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