Local Government Act 1985
Encyclopedia
The Local Government Act 1985 is an Act of Parliament
in the United Kingdom
. Its main effect was to abolish the county council
s of the metropolitan counties
that had been set up in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972
, along with the Greater London Council
that had been established in 1965.
The core provision, section 1, stated that "the Greater London Council; and the metropolitan county councils" shall cease to exist.
It came into effect on 1 April 1986, with some powers being devolved to the metropolitan borough
s themselves and London borough
s and others to joint authorities (such as for fire or police purposes) consisting of members of each of the metropolitan district councils within each county. The measures enacted by the act had been proposed in the white paper
Streamlining the cities
in 1983. At the time of the Act, one third of the population of England were living in Greater London and the metropolitan counties.
Time-limited Residuary Bodies were created to handle the disposal of the councils' assets.
Part III of the Act also set up the Inner London Education Authority
, which had previously been a committee of the GLC responsible for education in Inner London
, as a directly elected body. This was to remain in existence for only three years.
The Act was passed by Margaret Thatcher
's government after a series of high-profile disputes between the councils and the central government.
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Its main effect was to abolish the county council
County council
A county council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries.-United Kingdom:...
s of the metropolitan counties
Metropolitan county
The metropolitan counties are a type of county-level administrative division of England. There are six metropolitan counties, which each cover large urban areas, typically with populations of 1.2 to 2.8 million...
that had been set up in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972
Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
, along with the Greater London Council
Greater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
that had been established in 1965.
The core provision, section 1, stated that "the Greater London Council; and the metropolitan county councils" shall cease to exist.
It came into effect on 1 April 1986, with some powers being devolved to the metropolitan borough
Metropolitan borough
A metropolitan borough is a type of local government district in England, and is a subdivision of a metropolitan county. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972, metropolitan boroughs are defined in English law as metropolitan districts, however all of them have been granted or regranted...
s themselves and London borough
London borough
The administrative area of Greater London contains thirty-two London boroughs. Inner London comprises twelve of these boroughs plus the City of London. Outer London comprises the twenty remaining boroughs of Greater London.-Functions:...
s and others to joint authorities (such as for fire or police purposes) consisting of members of each of the metropolitan district councils within each county. The measures enacted by the act had been proposed in the white paper
White paper
A white paper is an authoritative report or guide that helps solve a problem. White papers are used to educate readers and help people make decisions, and are often requested and used in politics, policy, business, and technical fields. In commercial use, the term has also come to refer to...
Streamlining the cities
Streamlining the cities
Streamlining the cities: Government proposals for reorganising local government in Greater London and the Metropolitan counties was a government white paper issued in 1983, by the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher which led to the abolition of the Greater London Council and the...
in 1983. At the time of the Act, one third of the population of England were living in Greater London and the metropolitan counties.
Time-limited Residuary Bodies were created to handle the disposal of the councils' assets.
Part III of the Act also set up the Inner London Education Authority
Inner London Education Authority
The Inner London Education Authority was the education authority for the 12 inner London boroughs from 1965 until its abolition in 1990.-History:...
, which had previously been a committee of the GLC responsible for education in Inner London
Inner London
Inner London is the name for the group of London boroughs which form the interior part of Greater London and are surrounded by Outer London. The area was first officially defined in 1965 and for purposes such as statistics, the definition has changed over time. The terms Inner London and Central...
, as a directly elected body. This was to remain in existence for only three years.
The Act was passed by Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
's government after a series of high-profile disputes between the councils and the central government.