# Local Government Act 1985

The Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51) is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom. Its main effect was to abolish the six county councils of the metropolitan counties that had been set up by the Local Government Act 1972, along with the Greater London Council that had been established in 1965. In their place many single purpose authorities known collectively as 'joint authorities' were established for fire service, police and passenger transport. An ad hoc education authority was established for Inner London and a planning authority for Greater London. The legislation permitted councils to form 'joint arrangements' for waste disposal and other services that they wished to provide together. Time-limited residuary bodies were created to dispose of the assets of the former authorities.

## Background

Following the victory of the Conservative Party at the 1979 general election, Margaret Thatcher's government were involved in a series of high-profile disputes with the GLC and Metropolitan County Councils. All of the authorities were controlled by, or came under the control of the opposition Labour Party during Thatcher's first term. The Conservative manifesto for the 1983 general election pledged their abolition, describing the councils as "a wasteful and unnecessary tier of government". Having won a landslide victory in the 1983 General Election, the government published a white paper in October of that year, Streamlining the cities. Its proposals formed the basis of the Local Government Bill.

## Provisions

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 boroughs themselves and London boroughs 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. 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 Local Government Act 1972 allowed councils to voluntarily form joint committees to provide services together and the Local Government Act 1985 extended this principle by directing local authorities to form some shared arrangements whilst permitting them to form others as they wished.

### Local authorities abolished by Part I

Six metropolitan county councils were abolished and the local authority of Greater London.
* Greater London Council
* Greater Manchester County Council
* Merseyside County Council
* South Yorkshire County Council
* Tyne and Wear County Council
* West Midlands County Council
* West Yorkshire County Council

### Joint committees established by Part II

* Joint planning committee for Greater London
* Greater Manchester Trading Standards Joint Committee
* Merseyside County Trading Standards Joint Committee
* South Yorkshire Trading Standards Joint Committee
* Tyne and Wear Trading Standards Joint Committee
* West Midlands Trading Standards Joint Committee
* West Yorkshire Trading Standards Joint Committee

### Joint arrangements established by Part II

* East London Waste Authority
* Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority
* Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority
* North London Waste Authority
* Western Riverside Waste Authority
* West London Waste Authority

### Ad hoc authorities established by Part III

* Inner London Education Authority
Note: The outer London borough councils and metropolitan district councils were already education authorities.

### Joint authorities established by Part IV

A number of single purpose authorities were established, collectively known as joint authorities in the legislation.

#### Fire and civil defence authorities

* Greater Manchester Fire and Civil Defence Authority
* London Fire and Civil Defence Authority
* Merseyside Fire and Civil Defence Authority
* South Yorkshire Fire and Civil Defence Authority
* Tyne and Wear Fire and Civil Defence Authority
* West Midlands Fire and Civil Defence Authority
* West Yorkshire Fire and Civil Defence Authority

#### Passenger transport authorities

* Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority
* Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority
* South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority
* Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority
* West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority
* West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority
Note: London Regional Transport was established separately by the London Regional Transport Act 1984.

#### Police authorities

* Greater Manchester Police Authority
* Merseyside Police Authority
* Northumbria Police Authority
* South Yorkshire Police Authority
* West Midlands Police Authority
* West Yorkshire Police Authority
Note: The Metropolitan Police was under the control of the Home Office and unaffected by the legislation.

### Ad hoc bodies established by Part V

* London Boroughs Grants Committee

### Residuary bodies established by Part VII

* Greater Manchester Residuary Body
* London Residuary Body
* Merseyside Residuary Body
* South Yorkshire Residuary Body
* Tyne and Wear Residuary Body
* West Midlands Residuary Body
* West Yorkshire Residuary Body

### Ad hoc bodies established by Part IX

* London Research Centre