Constitutional arrangements

Local Authorities now work under new political management arrangements as introduced by the Local Government Act 2000. These are known as Council Constitutions.

All English local authorities are running new constitutions that are efficient, transparent and accountable. To do this they have chosen one of four options:

a council leader with a cabinet
a directly elected mayor with a cabinet
a directly elected mayor with a council manager
'alternative arrangements' of a streamlined committee system (open only to local authorities whose population was estimated by the Registrar General to be below 85,000 on 30 June 1999)

The adoption and operation of the new council constitutions is mandatory.

The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 removed the mayor and council manager option. We are updating the regulations and will update our guidance in due course.

The following pages and documents provide guidance and background information to help you understand how your local authority works, and how you can get involved with your local council and community.