Metropolitan borough

A Metropolitan Borough (or Metropolitan District) is a type of local government district in England, covering urban areas within Metropolitan Counties.

Current usage

The current Metropolitan Boroughs were created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972. New Metropolitan Counties were created to cover the six largest urban areas in England outside of Greater London, and these were subdivided into Metropolitan Boroughs. (The new authorities were actually defined as Metropolitan Districts, but since they inherited the status of their predecessors, all Metropolitan Districts have Borough or City status.)

Related Topics:
1974 - Local Government Act 1972 - Metropolitan Counties - Greater London - Borough - City

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Metropolitan districts were originally part of a two-tier structure of local government, and shared power with Metropoilitan County Councils (MCCs). They differed from Non-metropolitan districts, in the division of powers between district and county councils. Metropolitan districts were Local Education Authorities and were responsible for social services. Whereas in non-metropolitan counties these services were the responsibility of county councils.

Related Topics:
Non-metropolitan district - Local Education Authorities - Social service - County council

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In 1986 the Metropolitan County Councils (MCCs) were abolished (by the Local Government Act 1985) and most of their functions were devolved to the Boroughs, making them to a large extent Unitary Authorities. However, this description is not normally used; although most of the functions of the MCCs were devolved to the Boroughs, some of their functions were taken over by Joint Boards - the Boroughs appoint Councillors to these boards to run some county-wide services, including Emergency Services, Public Transport, Waste Disposal and Civil Defence.

Related Topics:
1986 - County Council - Local Government Act 1985 - Unitary Authorities

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The Metropolitan Boroughs are:

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For the historic London Metropolitan Boroughs see County of London.

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