12 - Statutory Authorities in England and Wales

Abstract

Local government in England and Wales, outside London, was completely reorganized on April 1, 1974, when the Local Government Act 1972 came into force. The essential characteristics of every local authority is that it is governed by a council elected on a wide franchise at four-year intervals. In districts, one-third of the councilors retire on three out of four years every year, but a nonmetropolitan district may resolve that all their members shall retire together. In counties, all members retire together every fourth year. Since 1974, there have been no aldermen elected by the councilors. Local authorities are legal persons who are capable of suing and being sued in the courts, entrusted by Parliament with a range of functions over a precisely limited geographical area. Each local authority is subject to the doctrine of ultra vires, that is, it can perform only those functions conferred on it by Parliament and only in such a manner as Parliament may have laid down.