page_title: Greater Manchester County Council
hierarchical_section_title: Greater Manchester County Council
caption_attribution_description: English: The coat of arms granted by the College of Arms to the Greater Manchester Council are described as the following: Shield: Gules ten Towers three two three two all within a Bordure embattled Or. (Representing the ten cities and boroughs of the County.) Supporters: On either side a lion Or each surmounted on the shoulder by a Roundel Gules that to the dexter charged with an open Book and that to the sinister charged with a French Horn proper. (The lions representing England, the book representing academia, and the French horn representing music and culture.) Crest: On a Wreath of the Colours a demi Lion Or supporting a Staff proper flying therefrom a Banner of the Arms. (Another English lion bearing a simple banner of the arms.) Motto: Ever Vigilant.
context_page_description: The Greater Manchester County Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater Manchester from 1974 to 1986. A strategic authority, with responsibilities for roads, public transport, planning, emergency services and waste disposal, it was composed of 106 directly elected members drawn from the ten metropolitan boroughs of Greater Manchester. The Greater Manchester County Council shared power with ten lower-tier district councils, each of which directed local matters. It was also known as the Greater Manchester Council and the Greater Manchester Metropolitan County Council.
  Established with reference to the Local Government Act 1972, elections in 1973 brought about the county council's launch as a shadow authority, several months before Greater Manchester was officially created on 1 April 1974. The Greater Manchester County Council operated from its County Hall headquarters on Portland Street in central Manchester, until it was abolished 31 March 1986, following the Local Government Act 1985. Its powers were passed to the ten district councils of Greater Manchester, which had shared power with the GMCC.
context_section_description: The Greater Manchester County Council (GMCC) was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater Manchester from 1974 to 1986. A strategic authority, with responsibilities for roads, public transport, planning, emergency services and waste disposal, it was composed of 106 directly elected members drawn from the ten metropolitan boroughs of Greater Manchester. The Greater Manchester County Council shared power with ten lower-tier district councils, each of which directed local matters. It was also known as the Greater Manchester Council (GMC) and the Greater Manchester Metropolitan County Council (GMMCC).
  Established with reference to the Local Government Act 1972, elections in 1973 brought about the county council's launch as a shadow authority, several months before Greater Manchester (its zone of influence) was officially created on 1 April 1974. The Greater Manchester County Council operated from its County Hall headquarters on Portland Street in central Manchester, until it was abolished 31 March 1986, following the Local Government Act 1985. Its powers were passed to the ten district councils of Greater Manchester, which had shared power with the GMCC. Some powers of the county council were restored when the district councils delegated strategic responsibilities (such as emergency services and public transport) to the county-wide Association of Greater Manchester Authorities and joint boards.
caption: Coat of arms of the Greater Manchester County Council
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