Citizens & Local Government (Edexcel GCSE Citizenship Studies): Revision Note

What do local councils do?

• Local councils operates at a local level, below central government and focuses on issues that directly affect local communities

  • Local councils help make democracy accessible, as decisions are made closer to the people they affect

  • They encourages active citizenship, such as voting, volunteering and community involvement

  • They help balance power between central government and local communities

How local government is structured

Parish councils

• Parish councils represent small villages or rural communities

• They deal with very local issues such as footpaths, village halls and community events

Town councils

• Town councils are similar to parish councils but operate in larger towns

• They focus on local amenities, community projects and representing residents’ views

District and Borough Councils

• These councils provide local everyday services, such as housing, waste collection and local planning

• They serve individual or groups of towns or cities within a county or larger area

County councils

• These are organisations, such as Staffordshire County Council, that provide large-scale services across a wide area, such as education, social care, highways and libraries

• They usually work alongside district or borough councils in a two-tier system

Unitary authorities

• Unitary authorities, such as Medway Council, combine county and district responsibilities into one council

• They provide all local services in their area, making decision-making simpler

Directly Elected Mayors

• Directly elected mayors, such as Andy Burnham in Manchester, lead a city or local area and provide visible leadership

• They are responsible for setting priorities and representing the area locally and nationally

Councillors and officers

• Councillors play a key role in local democracy, representing residents, helping make decisions, and holding the council to account

What do councillors do?

• Councillors are accountable to voters at local elections, which take place every three or four years

  • Voters can remove councillors who they feel have not represented them effectively

• They are held to account by the public, pressure groups and the media

  • Poor behaviour or controversial decisions can attract public criticism

  • Councillors must complete declarations of interest so the public can see any financial or employment interests that could influence decisions

• Each council has a Code of Conduct for Members

  • This sets out expected standards of behaviour and includes sanctions for breaches

The role of council officials

• Council officials are unelected council staff who turn political decisions into practical action

  • They ensure services are delivered fairly and legally

  • They help maintain trust and accountability in local government

The Chief Executive

• The Chief Executive is head of the council’s paid staff and the most senior officer in the local council

  • They are appointed by councillors, not elected by the public

• The Chief Executive's role includes:

  • Managing day-to-day operations

    • Oversees how council services are run

    • Ensures decisions made by councillors are put into action

  • Providing advice to councillors

    • Gives professional and impartial advice

    • Helps councillors understand the impact of their decisions

  • Ensuring the council works effectively

    • Makes sure the council meets legal duties

    • Promotes efficiency, good management and value for money

Other senior officers

• Directors and department heads

  • Lead specific services such as education, housing or social care

  • Responsible for planning and delivering services to the public

• Finance officer

  • Manages the council’s budget and spending

  • Ensures public money is used responsibly and lawfully

• Monitoring officer

  • Ensures the council follows the law and code of conduct

  • Investigates complaints about councillor behaviour

Local councils and the community

• Local councils play a key role in representing the views and interests of local people

• They are the level of government closest to citizens

  • This means they deal with issues that affect everyday life

• Councils help ensure local voices are heard in decision-making

  • Councillors are elected to speak on behalf of their communities

  • They represent residents with different needs, opinions and backgrounds

• By representing the community, local councils support local democracy

  • They allow citizens to influence decisions that affect their area

  • This helps build trust, accountability and participation at a local level