Local Government Act 1972
View on legislation.gov.ukLast amended by Localism Act 2011 in 2011. Introduced the general power of competence for eligible local authorities, supplementing the subsidiary powers in s.111.
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
Summary
The Local Government Act 1972 is the foundational modern statute for the structure and powers of local government in England and Wales. It created the two-tier system of county councils and district councils (with London governed separately) alongside parish and community councils, replacing the patchwork of authorities that had existed since the nineteenth century. It governs how authorities operate — their membership and elections, meetings and committees, officers, and public access to meetings and documents — and confers powers, including the well-known 'subsidiary powers' in s.111 to do anything calculated to facilitate the discharge of their functions, and the power to make byelaws. Much of the Act remains in force, though it has been heavily amended; the Localism Act 2011 added a general power of competence for principal authorities that supplements the s.111 power.
Key Points
- Created the modern structure of county, district, London borough, and parish/community councils
- Governs council meetings, committees, and officers, and public access to meetings and documents
- Subsidiary powers — power to do anything conducive or incidental to functions (s.111)
- Power to bring or defend legal proceedings in the interests of the area's inhabitants (s.222)
- Power to make byelaws; general power of competence later added by the Localism Act 2011
Parts & Sections
Amendments History
2011 — Localism Act 2011
Introduced the general power of competence for eligible local authorities, supplementing the subsidiary powers in s.111.