The structure of local government in the United Kingdom underwent large changes in the 1990s. The system of two-tier local government introduced in the 1970s by the Local Government Act 1972 and the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 was abolished in Scotland and Wales on April 1, 1996, and replaced with unitary authorities. In England, some areas remained two-tier but many unitary authories were created. No changes were made to local government in Northern Ireland. There is no single system of local government in the United Kingdom. ... The 1990s decade refers to the years from 1990 to 1999, inclusive. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... The Local Government Act 1972 (1972 c. ... The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (1973 c. ... Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within Europe Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... For an explanation of often confusing terms such as Great Britain, Britain, United Kingdom, England and Wales and England, see British Isles (terminology). ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... A unitary authority is a term used in a two-tier local government system to describe a unit of local government that operates as a single tier. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location (dark green) within the United Kingdom (light green), with the Republic of Ireland (blue) to its west Languages None official English de facto Capital None official London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked... Dieu et mon droit (motto) (French for God and my right)2 Northern Irelands location within the UK Main language English Other recognised languages Irish, Ulster Scots Capital and largest city Belfast First Minister Office suspended Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Peter Hain MP Area  - Total Ranked 4th...

Background

Prior to the 1970s, the UK had had a mixed system of local government, with some areas being covered by a county council and a more local district council, while large towns had only a single tier of authority (in England and Wales these were termed county boroughs, and in Scotland 'counties of cities'). The Acts abolished the existing county boroughs or counties of cities, and created a uniform two-tier system of government with regions or counties, and districts. In the British Isles, a county council is a council that governs a county. ... County borough was a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom to refer to a borough or a city independent of county administration. ... Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within Europe Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ...

Counties and unitary authorities of England from 1986 to 1995.

In 1986, Margaret Thatcher's government abolished the county councils of the six metropolitan counties that had been created in 1974, along with the Greater London Council, effectively creating 68 new 'county boroughs', or unitary authorities. 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC, FRS (born 13 October 1925) was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990. ... The metropolitan counties of England are counties that cover large urban areas, each with several metropolitan districts. ... Arms of the Greater London Council The Greater London Council (GLC) was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. ... A unitary authority is a type of local authority, which has a single tier and is responsible for all local government functions within its area. ...

In 1990, Thatcher's government introduced the Community Charge, popularly known as the Poll Tax, a new way of funding local councils based on a fixed per-head fee. This proved very unpopular, and led to riots. Eventually, Thatcher was ousted by her own party, and the new Conservative leader and Prime Minister, John Major, was pledged to abolish the Community Charge. This article is about the year. ... A poll tax, head tax, soul tax, or capitation is a tax of a uniform, fixed amount per individual (as opposed to a percentage of income). ... The Poll Tax Riots, as they became known, were major acts of civil disobedience carried out in England and Scotland. ... The Conservative Party is one of the two largest political parties in the United Kingdom and the most successful party in political history based on election victories. ... The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the head of government and so exercises many of the executive functions nominally vested in the Sovereign, who is head of state. ... Sir John Major, KG, CH (born 29 March 1943) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1990 - 1997. ...

Legislation for the Council Tax was introduced and passed in the 1991/1992 session. Also at this time (opponents have said that it was as a cover), the government took the opportunity to review the structure of local government throughout Great Britain. The Council Tax is the main form of local taxation in England, Scotland and Wales. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ...

Scotland

The previous system in Scotland had been the regions and districts. These were quite unbalanced in terms of population — the Strathclyde region had nineteen districts and over two million people, whereas the Borders region had four districts and only 100,000 people. Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within Europe Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... The nine Regions of Scotland were established under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as the uppermost tier of local government in Scotland. ... Strathclyde (Srath Chluaidh in Gaelic) was one of the regional council areas of Scotland from 1975 to 1996. ... Scottish Borders (Crìochan na h-Alba in Gaelic) is one of 32 unitary council regions in Scotland. ...

The Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 established 29 new 'council areas', and retained the three Island Councils. Variance in population was much less in the council areas, with just over half a million in the largest authority, City of Glasgow, compared to 50,000 in the smallest, Clackmannanshire. These are however outliers, and only six are outside the range 75,000 to 250,000. The Local Government Act etc. ... The council areas of Scotland form the local government areas of Scotland, all of them unitary authorities. ... The City of Glasgow Council (Mòr-bhaile Ghlaschu in Gaelic) is one of the 32 Scottish unitary authorities, formerly Glasgow District Council and Glasgow Corporation in Glasgow, Scotland. ... This article is in need of attention. ...

In some cases the names of traditional counties were revived as administrative areas, although often with vastly different borders. The traditional counties of Scotland are historic and cutural divisions of Scotland. ...

Wales

In Wales the existing system was replaced with a new unitary system, of counties and county boroughs, the only difference between them now being the name (and the councils of Cardiff, Swansea and Newport are styled as cities). For an explanation of often confusing terms such as Great Britain, Britain, United Kingdom, England and Wales and England, see British Isles (terminology). ... For local government purposes, Wales is divided into 22 unitary authorities. ...

The 1974 reform in Wales had abandoned use of the names of the traditional counties of Wales as local government areas. This was partially reversed in 1996, with Anglesey, Carmarthenshire, Cardiganshire, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Monmouthshire and Pembrokeshire all reappearing as local government areas, although not necessarily with their traditional borders. 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1974 calendar). ... Wales has thirteen traditional counties (or vice counties). ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Anglesey (Welsh: Ynys Môn, pronounced (IPA), roughly unniss mawn), is an island and county at the northwestern extremity of north Wales. ... Carmarthenshire (Welsh: Sir Gaerfyrddin) is a county in Wales. ... For other uses please see Ceredigion (disambiguation) Ceredigion is a county in Wales. ... Denbighshire (Welsh: Sir Ddinbych) is a county in North Wales. ... Flintshire (Welsh Sir y Fflint) is a county in northern Wales. ... Monmouthshire (Welsh: Sir Fynwy) is both a principal area and a traditional county in south-east Wales. ... Pembrokeshire (Welsh: Sir Benfro) is a county in the southwest of Wales in the United Kingdom. ...

The names and areas of the administrative counties abolished in 1996 remained in use (with modifications) as the preserved counties of Wales for purposes such as Lieutenancy. The Preserved counties of Wales are the current areas used in Wales for ceremonial purposes such as Lieutenancy. ... Flag of a Lord-Lieutenant The title Lord-Lieutenant is given to the British monarchs personal representatives around the United Kingdom. ...

England

April 1, 1996 to April 1, 1997

April 1, 1997 to April 1, 1998

April 1, 1998 onwards

The process of reform in England was greatly different to those in Scotland or Wales. Parliament passed the Local Government Act in 1992, allowing the Secretary of State to order the Local Government Commission for England to undertake 'structural reviews' in specified areas. Initially the Secretary of State was Michael Heseltine, who had been a junior local government minister during the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, and expressed enthusiasm for unitary local government. Heseltine was replaced by Michael Howard in April 1992, after the 1992 general election. April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location (dark green) within the United Kingdom (light green), with the Republic of Ireland (blue) to its west Languages None official English de facto Capital None official London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked... Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within Europe Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... For an explanation of often confusing terms such as Great Britain, Britain, United Kingdom, England and Wales and England, see British Isles (terminology). ... The Houses of Parliament, seen over Westminster Bridge The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative institution in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories (it alone has parliamentary sovereignty). ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... The Secretary of State for the Environment was a UK cabinet position. ... Michael Heseltine walks out of the cabinet meeting having resigned, January 9, 1986 The Right Honourable Michael Ray Dibdin Heseltine, Baron Heseltine, CH, PC (born 21 March 1933), is a British Conservative politician and businessman. ... The Local Government Act 1972 (1972 c. ... The Rt. ... The UK general election, 1992 was held on April 9, 1992, and was the fourth victory in a row for the Conservatives. ...

The Commission, chaired by John Banham, started the reviews in July 1992. The process was originally supposed to be take some years, with the shire counties being considered in five waves, or 'tranches', and it was hoped that the reforms would come into effect from 1994 (the first batch) to 1998 (the fifth batch). However, the process took longer than expected. The first tranche of reviews, covering Avon, Cleveland, County Durham, Gloucestershire, the Isle of Wight, Humberside, Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire and Somerset was nearly done by the end of 1993. Banham had said that the Commission was expecting 'early wins' in Cleveland, Humberside and Avon. Sir John Banham is a British business leader. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... Northavon Bristol Kingswood Woodspring Wansdyke Bath The County of Avon was a short-lived administrative county in the west of England, named after the River Avon which ran through it. ... Cleveland is an area in the north east of England. ... County Durham is a county in north-east England. ... Gloucestershire (pronounced ; GLOSS-ter-sher) is a county in South West England. ... The Isle of Wight is an English island, south of Southampton off the southern English coast. ... East Yorkshire Holderness Kingston upon Hull Beverley Boothferry Scunthorpe Glanford Great Grimsby Cleethorpes The Arms of Humberside County Council Humberside was a non-metropolitan county of England from April 1, 1974 until April 1, 1996. ... Lincolnshire (abbreviated Lincs) is a county in the East Midlands of England. ... Bolton Abbey North Yorkshire is a Shire county within the region of Yorkshire and the Humber in England. ... Somerset is a county in the south-west of England. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ...

In November 1993, a new Secretary of State, John Gummer (who had taken over in May) greatly accelerated the program of work. He directed the Commission to start reviews of all remaining shire counties the next month, and that they should be finished by the end of 1994. He also revised the guidance given, making it clear that wholly unitary solutions should be preferred, particularly ones smaller than existing counties but larger than existing districts. This article or section may be confusing for some readers, and should be edited to be clearer or more simplified. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ...

Lancashire and Derbyshire County Councils had taken the revised guidance to the High Court, seeking a judicial review that it was illegal. On January 28, the High Court ruled in their favour, implying that the Commission should consider retaining the status quo, either in part or wholly, as an option as well. Lancashire is a county and duchy palatine in the North of England, bounded to the west by the Irish Sea. ... Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, and boasts some of Englands most attractive scenery. ... Her Majestys High Court of Justice (usually known more simply as the High Court) is, together with the Crown Court and the Court of Appeal, part of the Supreme Court of England and Wales: see Courts of England and Wales. ... Judicial review is the power of a court to review a law or an official act of a government employee or agent for constitutionality or for the violation of basic principles of justice. ... January 28 is the 28th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

The first proposal was the quite uncontroversial one to make Isle of Wight a single unitary authority. The island had been split quite artificially between South Wight and Medina boroughs, with a Wight County Council, since 1974. The Isle of Wight is an English island, south of Southampton off the southern English coast. ... South Wight was a borough on the Isle of Wight, created in the local government reform of 1974, alongside the Medina borough which covered the north of the island. ... Medina was a borough on the Isle of Wight in England from 1974. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1974 calendar). ...

From the first tranche, the commission recommended that Avon, Cleveland and Humberside should be abolished and broken up into four unitary authorities each. It also recommended that the rump Somerset be broken up into three unitary authorities. It suggested that North Yorkshire be split into three unitary authorities - one for York, and two others to be called 'West Riding of Yorkshire' and 'North Riding of Yorkshire' (the proposed West Riding would have taken in only a small part of the historic West Riding of Yorkshire, whilst the proposed North Riding would have included most of the historic North Riding of Yorkshire). It recommended no change in Lincolnshire and Gloucestershire. The government accepted most of these recommendations, but also kept the status quo in Somerset, and in North Yorkshire retained a rump two-tier North Yorkshire without York. These changes were implemented in 1996. The County of Avon was a short-lived non-metropolitan county and ceremonial county in the west of England, named after the River Avon which ran through it. ... Cleveland is an area in the north east of England. ... East Yorkshire Holderness Kingston upon Hull Beverley Boothferry Scunthorpe Glanford Great Grimsby Cleethorpes The Arms of Humberside County Council Humberside was a non-metropolitan county of England from April 1, 1974 until April 1, 1996. ... Somerset is a county in the south-west of England. ... York is a city in northern England, at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss. ... The West Riding as an administrative county prior to its abolition in 1974. ... The North Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three traditional subdivisions of the English county of Yorkshire. ... Lincolnshire (abbreviated Lincs) is a county in the East Midlands of England. ... Gloucestershire (pronounced ; GLOSS-ter-sher) is a county in South West England. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ...

From the second and later tranches, it recommended Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Berkshire county councils to be abolished. Elsewhere, it operated rather inconsistently. Some counties were recommended to have no change, others to be split into large unitary authorities, with large districts sometimes being recommended for unitary status, but sometimes not. In early 1995, soon after the report had been delivered, John Banham resigned as head of the Commission. Map of Bucks (1904) Buckinghamshire (abbreviated Bucks) is a county in South East England. ... Bedfordshire is a county in England and forms part of the East of England region. ... Berkshire (IPA: or  ; sometimes abbreviated to Berks) is a county in England and forms part of the South East England region. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire it did not accept the recommendations of the Commission, which was for an entirely unitary structure, and decided to only make Luton and Milton Keynes unitary, with the rest of those counties retaining a two-tier structure. The proposal to abolish Berkshire County Council was accepted, however. This had been strongly supported by the County Council earlier, though as implementation drew closer, and the political composition of the Council altered, it changed its mind. Another county council that was recommended to be abolished was Dorset, where four unitary authorities were proposed. Two of these were accepted, Bournemouth and Poole, whilst the rest of the county remained two-tier. Most of the recommendations from this round of the review were implemented in 1997, a few being held over till 1998. Map of Bucks (1904) Buckinghamshire (abbreviated Bucks) is a county in South East England. ... Bedfordshire is a county in England and forms part of the East of England region. ... Luton is a town and local government district in England, located 33 miles (50km) north of central London. ... The Borough of Milton Keynes is a borough in England. ... Dorset (pronounced Dorsit, sometimes in the past called Dorsetshire) is a county in the southwest of England, on the English Channel coast. ... Bournemouth is a seaside resort on the south coast of England. ... Poole is a coastal town, port and tourist destination in the traditional county of Dorset in southern England. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In many counties that were to remain unchanged, the government accepted the Report, with reservations about specific districts. The Environment Secretary referred the cases of twenty-one districts to a reconstituted commission, under David Cooksey. These were Basildon, Blackburn, Blackpool, Broxtowe, Dartford, Exeter, Gedling, Gillingham, Gloucester, Gravesham, Halton, Huntingdonshire, Northampton, Norwich, Peterborough, Rochester upon Medway, Rushcliffe, Spelthorne, Thurrock, Warrington, and the Wrekin. About half of these were accepted by the Commission, and these changes were implemented in 1998. The Basildon district is a local govenment district in Essex, England. ... Blackburn with Darwen (Dwrgwyn) is a borough in Lancashire, North West England. ... This article is about the town in England. ... Broxtowe is a local government district with borough status in Nottinghamshire, England, west of the city of Nottingham. ... Dartford is the principal town in the borough of Dartford. ... The city of Exeter is the county town of Devon, in England, UK. It is located at , . In the 2001 census its population was recorded at 111,066. ... Gedling is a local government district with borough status in Nottinghamshire, England. ... Gillingham is a town in Kent in the United Kingdom, forming part of the Medway conurbation; it is a constituent of Medway unitary authority. ... Gloucester (pronounced ) is a city and district in south-west England, close to the Welsh border. ... Gravesham is a local government district and borough in Kent, England. ... Halton is a borough in North West England, administered by a unitary authority. ... Huntingdonshire (abbreviated Hunts) is a part of England around Huntingdon, which is currently administered as a local government district of Cambridgeshire. ... Northampton Guildhall, built 1861-4, E.W. Godwin, architect Northampton is a large market town and a local government district in central England upon the River Nene, and the county town of Northamptonshire. ... Norwich (pronounced variously Norritch, Norridge) is a city in East Anglia, in Eastern England, and the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. ... Peterborough is a city in the East of England. ... Rochester is a small town in Kent, at the lowest bridging point of the River Medway about 30 miles (50 km) from London. ... Rushcliffe is a local government district with borough status in Nottinghamshire, England. ... Spelthorne is a local government district and borough in Surrey, England. ... Thurrock is a unitary authority in England. ... Location within the British Isles Warrington is the largest town and borough in the county of Cheshire, North West England. ... Telford and Wrekin is a borough in the West Midlands region of England. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ...

Timetable

On April 1, 1995, the Isle of Wight became a single unitary authority. It had previously had a two-tier structure with an Isle of Wight County Council; and a Medina Borough Council and a South Wight Borough Council. Also on this day, two small areas were ceded from Surrey and Buckinghamshire to Berkshire, giving it a border with Greater London. April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Isle of Wight is an English island, south of Southampton off the southern English coast. ... Medina was a borough on the Isle of Wight in England from 1974. ... South Wight was a borough on the Isle of Wight, created in the local government reform of 1974, alongside the Medina borough which covered the north of the island. ... Surrey is a county in southern England, part of the South East England region and one of the Home Counties. ... Map of Bucks (1904) Buckinghamshire (abbreviated Bucks) is a county in South East England. ... Berkshire (IPA: or  ; sometimes abbreviated to Berks) is a county in England and forms part of the South East England region. ... Greater London is the top level administrative subdivision covering London and forms one of the nine regions of England. ...

On April 1, 1996, the unpopular counties of Avon, Humberside and Cleveland were abolished and their districts turned into unitary authorities. Avon became Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Bristol. Cleveland's districts merely became unitary authorities directly, without any boundary changes. The part of Humberside north of the River Humber and traditionally part of Yorkshire became part of the new East Riding of Yorkshire, apart from Hull, which constituted a unitary authority itself. In the Lincolnshire part of Humberside, two new unitary authorities, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire, were formed. Also at this time, the City of York was expanded and separated from North Yorkshire. April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Northavon Bristol Kingswood Woodspring Wansdyke Bath The County of Avon was a short-lived administrative county in the west of England, named after the River Avon which ran through it. ... East Yorkshire Holderness Kingston upon Hull Beverley Boothferry Scunthorpe Glanford Great Grimsby Cleethorpes The Arms of Humberside County Council Humberside was a non-metropolitan county of England from April 1, 1974 until April 1, 1996. ... Status: Non-metropolitan county Admin. ... Bath and North East Somerset (commonly referred to as BANES or B&NES) is an English unitary local government authority that was created on April 1, 1996 following the abolition of Avon County Council, and is an administrative county in its own right. ... North Somerset is a unitary authority in England, historically part of the county of Somerset but now administered independently. ... South Gloucestershire is a local government area in South West England. ... Bristol (IPA: brĭstəl) is a city, unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England. ... East Yorkshire Holderness Kingston upon Hull Beverley Boothferry Scunthorpe Glanford Great Grimsby Cleethorpes The Arms of Humberside County Council Humberside was a non-metropolitan county of England from April 1, 1974 until April 1, 1996. ... Humber is also the name of one of the ranges of cars manufactured by the Rootes Group Humber is also the name of a river in Newfoundland, Canada, as well as a river and a college, both in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... The White Yorkshire rose. ... The East Riding of Yorkshire is a local government district in the United Kingdom. ... Hull or Kingston upon Hull is a British city situated on the north bank of the Humber estuary. ... North Lincolnshire is a unitary authority in England, established in April 1996, one of the first unitary councils. ... North East Lincolnshire is a unitary authority in the north east of England, bordering onto North Lincolnshire and Lincolnshire. ... York is a city in northern England, at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss. ... Bolton Abbey North Yorkshire is a Shire county within the region of Yorkshire and the Humber in England. ...

On April 1, 1997, the districts of Bournemouth, Darlington, Derby, Leicester, Luton, Milton Keynes, Poole, Portsmouth, Rutland and Southampton became unitary authorities. Also, the districts of Brighton and Hove were merged to form the new unitary authority of Brighton and Hove. April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Bournemouth is a seaside resort on the south coast of England. ... Darlington is a local government district and borough in North East England. ... This article is about the city of Derby in England. ... Leicester city centre, looking towards clock tower Leicester (pronounced ) is the largest city in the English East Midlands. ... Luton is a town and local government district in England, located 33 miles (50km) north of central London. ... The Borough of Milton Keynes is a borough in England. ... Poole is a coastal town, port and tourist destination in the traditional county of Dorset in southern England. ... Portsmouth is a city of about 196,000 people located in the county of Hampshire on the southern coast of Great Britain. ... Rutland is traditionally Englands smallest county and is bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire, and southeast by Northamptonshire. ... Southampton is a city and major port situated on the south coast of England. ... Brighton on the southern Sussex coast is one of the largest and most famous seaside resorts in England. ... This article is about the English town of Hove. ... Brighton and Hove is a city on the south coast of England. ...

On April 1, 1998, Blackpool, Blackburn with Darwen, Halton, Medway, Nottingham, Peterborough, Plymouth, Swindon, Stoke-on-Trent, Southend-on-Sea, Telford and Wrekin, Torbay, Thurrock and Warrington became unitary authorities. Also, Hereford and Worcester was abolished and replaced by the unitary authority of Herefordshire and the shire county of Worcestershire. Berkshire was split into six unitary authorities, but not formally abolished. April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... This article is about the town in England. ... Blackburn with Darwen (Dwrgwyn) is a borough in Lancashire, North West England. ... Halton is a borough in North West England, administered by a unitary authority. ... The Medway Towns is the name given to a conurbation located to the north of Kent in England: until 1998 it was part of that county (see below). ... Nottingham is a city (and county town of Nottinghamshire) in the East Midlands of England. ... Peterborough is a city in the East of England. ... Plymouth is a city in the South West of England, or alternatively the Westcountry, and is situated within the traditional county of Devon. ... The article on the town of Swindon is here. ... This page is about Stoke-on-Trent in England. ... Southend-on-Sea is a resort town in Essex, England. ... Telford and Wrekin is a borough in the West Midlands region of England. ... Torbay is an east facing bay at the western most end of Lyme Bay in the south west of England, situated roughly midway between the cities of Exeter and Plymouth. ... Thurrock is a unitary authority in England. ... Location within the British Isles Warrington is the largest town and borough in the county of Cheshire, North West England. ... Wyre Forest Bromsgrove Redditch Wychavon Worcester Malvern Hills Leominster Hereford South Herefordshire The County of Hereford and Worcester was an English administrative county created by the Local Government Act 1972 from the traditional counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire. ... Herefordshire is a traditional and ceremonial county and unitary district in the West Midlands region of England in the United Kingdom. ... Worcestershire (pronounced ; abbreviated Worcs) is a county located in the West Midlands region of central England. ... Berkshire (IPA: or  ; sometimes abbreviated to Berks) is a county in England and forms part of the South East England region. ...

Impact

In Avon and Humberside, which were being abolished, the successor unitary authorities were mergers of existing districts. Apart from these, nearly all the others were created using existing district boundaries, which had been set in 1974 (and in many cases had been unrevised since the 1930s). There was only one expansion (York) and two mergers - Brighton and Hove into Brighton and Hove, and Rochester and Gillingham into Medway. Northavon Bristol Kingswood Woodspring Wansdyke Bath The County of Avon was a short-lived administrative county in the west of England, named after the River Avon which ran through it. ... East Yorkshire Holderness Kingston upon Hull Beverley Boothferry Scunthorpe Glanford Great Grimsby Cleethorpes The Arms of Humberside County Council Humberside was a non-metropolitan county of England from April 1, 1974 until April 1, 1996. ... The Districts of England are the lowest level of local government in England, except for civil parishes. ... The Districts of England are the lowest level of local government in England, except for civil parishes. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1974 calendar). ... This article or section is missing references or citation of sources. ... York is a city in northern England, at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss. ... Brighton on the southern Sussex coast is one of the largest and most famous seaside resorts in England. ... The town of Hove is a next-door neighbour of Brighton, on the south coast of England. ... Brighton and Hove is a city on the south coast of England. ... Rochester is a small town in Kent, at the lowest bridging point of the River Medway about 30 miles (50 km) from London. ... Gillingham is a town in Kent in the United Kingdom, forming part of the Medway conurbation; it is a constituent of Medway unitary authority. ... The Medway Towns is the name given to a conurbation located to the north of Kent in England: until 1998 it was part of that county (see below). ...

Some quite large districts that had been historic county boroughs were not granted unitary status. The largest of these was Northampton, with a population of about 200,000. Northampton Guildhall, built 1861-4, E.W. Godwin, architect Northampton is a large market town and a local government district in central England upon the River Nene, and the county town of Northamptonshire. ...

The local government reform did not affect police force areas, or fire and rescue service areas. The British police are a group of similar but independent police services which operate in the United Kingdom. ...

The ceremonial counties were also affected by this reform. Avon, Humberside and Cleveland were abolished for ceremonial purposes. In Avon, the parts were allocated to their original Somerset and Gloucestershire, with Bristol being restored as a ceremonial county in its own right. Cleveland was simply partitioned between County Durham and North Yorkshire. Humberside was split between Lincolnshire and the new ceremonial East Riding of Yorkshire (including Hull). Herefordshire, Rutland, and Worcestershire were also restored as ceremonial counties. The Ceremonial counties of England are areas of England that are appointed a Lord-Lieutenant, and are defined by the government with reference to the metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England. ... Somerset is a county in the south-west of England. ... Gloucestershire (pronounced ; GLOSS-ter-sher) is a county in South West England. ... Bristol (IPA: brĭstəl) is a city, unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England. ... County Durham is a county in north-east England. ... Bolton Abbey North Yorkshire is a Shire county within the region of Yorkshire and the Humber in England. ... Lincolnshire (abbreviated Lincs) is a county in the East Midlands of England. ... The East Riding of Yorkshire is a local government district in the United Kingdom. ... Herefordshire is a traditional and ceremonial county and unitary district in the West Midlands region of England in the United Kingdom. ... Rutland is traditionally Englands smallest county and is bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire, and southeast by Northamptonshire. ... Worcestershire (pronounced ; abbreviated Worcs) is a county located in the West Midlands region of central England. ...

External links

• The experience in West Sussex - PDF