The Local Government Act 1972 reorganised the structure of local government in England and Wales. It established counties, districts, parishes, and communities as the main administrative units, defined the functions and powers of local authorities, and provided for elections, membership, finance, and governance. The Act remains a cornerstone of UK local government law, although much of it has since been amended or repealed.
The Act replaced earlier fragmented systems with a unified framework for local authority organisation. It sets out how councils are formed, how councillors are elected, what functions authorities have, and how they interact with central government. It also provides powers for local governance, community engagement, financial management, and service delivery.
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