Briefing for new councillors

Councils are complex organisations with a broad range of legal responsibilities, powers and duties. Local government is responsible for over 800 services, affecting many aspects of our daily lives. This includes, but is not limited to schools, roads, social care, waste, and planning. There are different tiers of local government in England. In many parts there are two tiers: county councils and either district, borough of city councils. In some parts of the country there is just one tier of local government providing all the local services, known as unitary councils. The three main types of unitary councils are unitary authorities in shire areas, London boroughs, and metropolitan boroughs.

The statutory duties of unitary, county and district councils in England vary. For example, county councils are responsible for services across the whole of a county, including but not limited to education, transport, social care, libraries, and waste management. District, borough, and city councils cover a smaller area than county councils and usually have responsibility for services like housing, waste collection, and planning. Where there is one tier of local government that council will provide all the local services.

Councils play a prominent role as leaders of their place; in many areas this entails bringing together different public, private and community sector partners to achieve better outcomes. Councils can deliver services through direct service provision, partnerships and commissioning. Statutory powers are in different forms. Some may be detailed and compulsory, requiring councils to do certain things to defined standards, regardless of budget constraints. Some examples include education services, children’s safeguarding and social care, adult social care, planning and housing services, and library services. 

Other services are discretionary where legislation provides the council with the power to provide the service, but they are not mandatory. So, the council has discretion over the type and level of service it provides. They range from large economic regeneration projects to public events and festivals, right down to the removal of wasp nests. Councils are allowed to charge for discretionary services, provided it is not prohibited by other legislation and the council does not make a profit. Councils have a General Power of Competence which allows them to do anything an individual can do provided it is not prohibited by other legislation.

Councils will often use their discretionary approaches to reduce the demand for mandatory services. These approaches are often referred to as early intervention or prevention. Often examples of this include how councils, working with partners focus on identifying and supporting children, adults, and families at risk, earlier on to prevent future problems like poor health, low education attainment and criminal behavioural. Many councils undertake prevention and early intervention to reduce the need for higher-cost interventions and negative long-term consequences.

In June 2024, ahead of the general election, the LGA published its Local Government White Paper setting out the critical role that local government has in solving some of our biggest national challenges. It also called for a renewed and reinvigorated partnership between local and national government and a commitment to ensuring the sustainability and effectiveness of public services. In February 2026, the LGA published its Spring Statement 2026: LGA submission to government. 

In December 2024, the government published the English Devolution White Paper, ​​which set out the government’s proposals to widen and deepen devolution across the country. It also outlined an ambitious programme of local government reorganisation to replace all two-tier county and district councils with single tier unitary authorities. This will be the most significant change in the structure and responsibilities of councils in a generation. The LGA’s position in response is clear in that we want every council in England to have the ability to secure devolution that works for them, their local economies, and their residents. Lots more information is available on the LGA’s devolution and local government reorganisation hub.

Councillors are uniquely positioned to act as community leaders, representing their constituents and advocating for their needs. They play a crucial role in policy development, decision-making and community engagement, acting as a key link between residents and the council.

The legal responsibilities of councillors include acting within statutory powers, adhering to the council’s constitution and Code of Conduct; declaring financial interests; and avoiding misconduct or breaches of electoral law. Councillors should also follow the Nolan Principles of Public Life. The councillor’s role covers a variety of different areas, including:

1. Representing your local area – councillors provide an essential bridge between local communities and the council.
2. Community leadership – councillors play a key role in working in partnership with local communities and organisations to develop a vision for the local area.
3. Developing council policy – councillors contribute to the development of clear strategies and policies to achieve the council’s vision for the area, whilst overseeing the delivery of these policies and strategies at a strategic level.
4. Planning and regulation – some councillors are appointed to regulatory committees such as planning and licensing where decisions are made about matters including planning and licensing applications.

The LGA’s councillor hub has a wealth of e-learning modules, guidance documents and councillor workbooks covering key topics and policy areas as well as a guide on being an effective ward councillor, councillor-officer relations, chairing skills and community leadership. 

The LGA also provides a free councillor e-learning platform which you can utilise to learn more about the many different areas of local government and build your political leadership skills.

In response to the feedback from councillors across the country about abuse and intimidation, the LGA is working closely with the Welsh LGA (WGLA), the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) and the Northern Ireland LGA (NILGA) to coordinate a programme of work entitled ‘Civility in public life’. This work aims to raise public awareness of the role of councillors in their communities and encourage healthy debate. Two specific resources which may be of use:

1. Civility in public life: Digital citizenship resources and virtual training events.
2. Social media guidance for councillors.

The LGA offers political mentoring for the Leader, Cabinet Members, Committee Chairs and Group Leaders to support them in their role. Political mentoring usually involves matching mentees with a LGA member peer from the same political party. This is particularly helpful for confidential conversations for members to explore tricky issues in a ‘safe’ environment. You can find out more about this offer of support by contacting your Principal Adviser/regional lead.

Focus on Leadership' series.

Our 'Focus on Leadership' councillor development events are designed to support councillors to excel in their existing roles and to provide them with a bridge to senior leadership positions. Councillor development events – 'Focus on Leadership' series | Local Government Association

Leadership Essentials

Leadership Essentials is a series of programmes and masterclasses designed as themed learning opportunities for councillors. Each programme concentrates on a specific portfolio or service area or a specific theme. Details of specific programmes of relevance are highlighted below.

Leadership Essentials | Local Government Association

Next Generation

Our Next Generation programme offers ambitious and talented councillors an unparalleled political development opportunity – uniquely developed within party political traditions and with party political experts. The programme equips emerging political leaders with the skills and confidence to be bold champions of local government and progress in their political careers. 

The LGA’s Leadership Academy is local government’s flagship development programme for councillors in leadership positions. The programme supports leading members to develop techniques and strategies for different leadership challenges.

Councils can adopt (or be directed to adopt) one of the following four models of governance:

• a leader and cabinet
• a committee system
• executive arrangements with a directly elected mayor
• arrangements prescribed by the Secretary of State.

It is important to understand which system of governance is in place in your council and how it works, the best source of information for this locally is the council’s ‘constitution’ which should provide most answers to any questions you may have. Most councils across the country operate a Leader and cabinet model. Each cabinet member has a specific area of responsibility to reflect the services and priorities of the council – for example children and young people, housing, or finance. The cabinet will meet regularly, often monthly in a formal, public way with meetings in-between on an informal basis. The cabinet in some councils are often alternatively referred to as the ‘Executive.’

Some councils opt for a committee system. Under these arrangements, the council establishes a number of committees, each with a specific area of responsibility to again reflect the key priorities of the council and services delivered. The political groups appoint elected members to those committees.

Whichever system an authority has, it must have a full council on which all councillors sit. This is responsible for setting the policy framework, agreeing the budget, and spending plans, electing the leader, and making constitutional and other important decisions which in turn must be lawful and taken with reference to appropriate advice. It is also a forum for debate on major issues affecting the council and its local area.

The LGA runs the Being an effective cabinet member: Leadership Essentials programme which can provide further information to newly appointed cabinet members. This is also suited to policy committee chairs at councils operating the committee system. For more information about Leadership academy and Leadership essentials please contact Grace Collins: [email protected].

Councils that do not opt for the committee system must establish overview and scrutiny arrangements through which non-cabinet councillors can scrutinise decisions. The LGA’s councillor’s workbook on scrutiny provides councillors with information on the ‘overview and scrutiny’ function of councils to support them in their role as councillor. For new or aspiring scrutiny chairs, or task-and-finish group review lead members, there is the LGA’s Effective scrutiny: Leadership Essentials two day programme. Councils which have the committee arrangement must ensure that a robust level of overview and scrutiny takes place and may often choose to do this either through the work of the dedicated committees, or by setting up an overview and scrutiny committee.

Both officers and councillors are expected to follow the seven Nolan Principles of Public Life (selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership). The council’s Standards Committee oversees the conduct and behaviour of councillors. It will advise on the council’s Code of Conduct, investigate potential breaches, and handles complaints that have been referred by the Monitoring Officer.

Audit Committees support and monitor the council in the areas of governance, risk management, external audit, internal audit, financial reporting, and other areas. They will oversee statutory duties, regulations, and standards relating to these areas. The LGA’s Ten questions for audit committees has further information. For committee chairs, the LGA runs the Audit Committees: Leadership Essentials programme.

Trading standards, environmental health and licensing teams support local businesses by helping explain legislation around regulation and protecting them from rogue traders. The LGA runs the Licensing: Leadership Essentials programme.

The following section provides information on a number of areas where different councils have specific duties or statutory responsibilities. (This list is not exhaustive)

The Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) is part of the Equality Act 2010, enforced by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). Councils, council staff and councillors are required to adhere to it. The following is from the Government’s guidance:

• The general duty requires public authorities, in the exercise of their functions, to have due regard to the need to:
  • eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation, and any other unlawful conduct prohibited by the act
  • advance equality of opportunity between people who share and people who do not share a relevant protected characteristic
  • foster good relations between people who share and people who do not share a relevant protected characteristic.

Failure to comply with the legal obligations and best practice under the duty to have regards to, may open your council to legal action enforced by the EHRC or by a person or a group dissatisfied with your decision(s). The decision to act in a particular way or a failure to act could be challenged by way of judicial review.

The LGA’s equalities hub provides officers and members with a range of tools and resources to support councils.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

In February 2026 the Government published a Schools White Paper, Every child achieving and thriving, which proposes significant reforms to the education and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) systems in England. A consultation on reforms to the SEND system, SEND reform: putting children and young people first, was published alongside the Schools White Paper and sets out a broader set of reforms which build on the proposals set out in chapter 3 of the White Paper. The LGA’s response to the White Paper can be read here SEND reforms – LGA response | Local Government Association