Local Government in the United Kingdom

1
Local Government in the United Kingdom

• Helen Ball BA (Hons) FILCM
• Town Clerk
• Beverley Town Council, East Yorkshire, UK

2
Local Government in the UK

• What is Local Government about?
• What it delivers?
• How Parish Town Council are involved in Local
  Government?
• How does a Town Clerk fit in?
• Sharing best practice?

3
How do we get from Whitehall to Beverley?
10 Downing Street, London
County Hall, Beverley
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What is Local Government?

• Local Government is the way in which the
  countrys governance administration is carried
  out and its public services delivered

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Local Government Objectives

• Delivery of national objectives
• Using National Local resources to meet the
  diverse requirements of different neighbourhoods
  communities
• About securing a strategy for the local
  community, delivering the right outcomes by
  managing and using its assets effectively,
  working with central government as well as with
  local communities and local businesses in its area

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Central Government

• National Health Service
• Social Benefits Pensions
• Defence
• Further/Higher Education
• Sets National Policy

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Regional Government

• 9 Regions
• Scotland, Wales Northern Ireland (self
  governed)
• Government Offices
• Regional Development Agencies

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Constitutional Arrangements of Local Government

• Varies across the Country
• Shire Counties
• Shire Districts
• Metropolitan Districts
• Government Offices in the Regions
• Parish Town Council
• Single Purpose Authorities
• Many Shire Districts/Counties are becoming
  Unitary Authorities

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London

• London Boroughs
• City of London
• Greater London Authority
  Directly Elected Mayor of London
• Metropolitan Police Authority
• London Fire Emergency Planning Authority
• Transport for London
• London Development Agency

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What Local Government does?

• Cultural Services
• Archives/Museums/Art Galleries
• Parks Open Spaces
• Allotments
• Libraries
• Sport
• Tourism
• Environment
• Cemeteries/Crematoria/Mortuaries
• Consumer Protection
• Environmental Health Food/Pest/Pollution
• Licensing
• Toilets
• Waste Collection Disposal
• Street Cleansing
• Protective Services
• Police
• Fire
• Courts

• Education
• Schools
• Pre-school
• Adult Education
• Youth Services
• Transport
• Highways
• Streetlighting
• Traffic Management Parking
• Public Transport
• Airports Harbours
• Social Services
• Children Family Services
• Fostering Adoption
• Youth Justice
• Services for the Elderly
• Services for people with Learning Disabilities
• Housing
• Council Housing

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Who Does What?
Metropolitan Areas Metropolitan Areas Shire Counties Shire Counties Shire Counties Shire Counties London London London
Metropolitan District Councils Single Purpose Authorities County Councils District Councils Unitary Authorities Single Purpose Authorities City of London London Borough Councils Greater London Authority
Education a   a   a   a a  
Highways a   a   a   a a a
Transport a   a   a   a a a
Passenger Transport   a a   a       a
Social Services a   a   a   a a  
Housing a     a a   a a  
Libraries/Museums a   a   a   a a  
Leisure/Recreation a     a a   a a  
Environmental Health a     a a   a a  
Waste Collection a     a a   a a  
Waste Disposal a   a   a   a a  
Development Control a     a a   a a  
Strategic Planning a   a   a   a a a
Police   a       a a   a
Fire   a a     a     a
Courts a   a     a      
Taxation a     a a   a a  
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Spending
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Parish Town Councils

• 8700 Parish Council
• 400 are Town Councils
• 1500 Parish Meetings
• 70,000 Parish Councillors
• Have limited Duties but Extensive Powers

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Powers Duties of Parish Councils
Highways
Byelaws
Footpaths
Street Lights
Car Parking
Traffic Calming
Transport
Bus Shelters
Community Transport
Leisure/Recreation
Conference Facilities
Parks / Playing Fields
Commons / Open Spaces
Boating Lakes
Community Centre / Village Halls
Environmental Health
Allotments
Clocks
Litter Bins
Seats
Toilets
Burial Grounds / Crematoria / Mortuaries
War Memorial Halls
Markets
Development Control
Planning Applications
Strategic Planning
Parish Town Plans
Tourism
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Yorkshire Humber Region

• 5million population
• 78billion turnover
• Home of Walmart-UK
• Famous Yorkshiremen
• Patrick Stewart
• Captain Cook
• Guy Fawkes
• Mel B (Spice Girls)
• 21 Local Authorities
• 1200 Parish Town Councils

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East Riding of Yorkshire

• 168 Parish Town Councils
• Beverley is the County Town of East Yorkshire
• East Riding of Yorkshire Council based in Beverley

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Parish Council Services
Stroud Town Council, Gloucestershire
Barby Onley Parish Council, Northamptonshire
Forest Row Parish Council, East Sussex
Heath Hayes Wimblebury Parish Council,
Staffordshire
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Activities Beverley Town Council
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The Role of the Town Clerk

• Proper Officer of the Council
• Professional Advice on the laws of governance
• Implements Council Decisions
• Financial Administrator
• Community Advocate
• Jack of all Trades!

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Fun Side of being a Town Clerk
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Categories of Young People in the UK
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Active Engagement with Young People

• Tomorrows Guardians of your Town
• Large proportion of your population
• They have an opinion
• They have a tough time
• Youth Workers
• Skateparks/Play Parks
• Youth Council

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Young People in Beverley
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• Helen Ball BA (Hons) FILCM
• Town Clerk
• Beverley Town Council
• 12 Well Lane, Beverley, East Yorkshire, HU17 9BL
• Tel [phone]
• clerk_at_beverley.gov.uk
• www.beverley.gov.uk