Upper-tier


In most areas of England local government functions are divided between two tiers of local authority, county councils, known as ‘upper tier’ authorities and city, borough or district councils, known as ‘lower-tier’ authorities.

However since 1992 authorities in Scotland and Wales and some authorities in England have become unitaryGlossary: Unitary authorities are local authorities which are responsible for all local government functions in a particular geographic area authorities, where all functions are undertaken by a single authority in a particular area.