Governance

Where several districts or boroughs were involved they acted through a joint committee, set up under a co-operation agreement. Where county councils existed they continued to administer county services and transport planning.

Once the ConnectedCity had become a reality, however, local government was re-organised. County and district councils were replaced by a single council for the whole ConnectedCity.

These councils cover most of the country. Some have big budgets and staff; others are small and share officers with a larger neighbour.

In the early days of ConnectedCities the government invited major regional cities to enter into consultations with the ConnectedCities within easy reach to prepare regional plans covering transport, economic development, power, water, waste, housing and other topics, thereby creating city regions, each with a metropolis at its core.

The boroughs of Greater London and the major conurbations have taken what they find useful from the ConnectedCities methodology but not used the Cities Act. Metropolitan boroughs like Leeds, Sheffield, Doncaster and Coventry have adopted the Act and become hub towns.

Almost every town has a town council, and almost every rural village a parish council. They provide leadership, secure local amenities, decide some planning applications and communicate the views of the local people to the city council.

The resulting structure of:

• City regions

• ConnectedCities

• Towns and parishes

now covers the country. The costs of re-organisation were considerable, but having all local services administered by single ConnectedCity councils has saved money.