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Levels of power · Level 4 of 10

County councils, combined authorities and metro mayors

The level above the local council: county councils, combined authorities and their metro mayors (such as Greater Manchester and the West Midlands), the Greater London Authority, police and crime commissioners, NHS trusts and integrated care boards, and the water companies. They run regional transport, policing, hospitals, waste disposal and strategic planning.

What this level decides

Key figures

FigureValueSource
County councils in two-tier areas of England (GOV.UK page last updated 1 April 2023)21Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), read 23 October 2026
Areas covered by MHCLG's English devolution factsheets (Factsheets published 10 July 2025)16 (7 Established Mayoral, 7 Mayoral, 2 Foundation without a mayor)Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), read 23 October 2026
Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities (Factsheets published 10 July 2025)7 (Greater London, Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, North East, South Yorkshire, West Midlands, West Yorkshire)Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), read 23 October 2026
Term of office of a mayor of a strategic authority (Factsheets published 10 July 2025)4 years (for example Cambridgeshire and Peterborough: elected May 2025, next election 2029)Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), read 23 October 2026
Funding confirmed through Integrated Settlements for seven Mayoral Strategic Authorities (2026-27 to 2029-30)At least £13 billionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), read 23 October 2026
Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Grant for Mayoral Strategic Authorities (2026-27 to 2028-29)£295.8 million (£90.0 million in 2026-27)Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), read 23 October 2026
Share of England covered by devolution if six Devolution Priority Programme areas are included (Bill guidance last updated 3 December 2025)77% of England, just over 44 million peopleMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), read 23 October 2026
Average Band D council tax in shire areas of England (2026-27)£2,452 (up £108, or 4.6%)Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), read 23 October 2026
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 (2026)Chapter 23, dated 29 April 2026legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives), read 23 October 2026

How it works

GOV.UK says there are 21 county councils in two-tier areas of England. They provide services such as education, social services and waste disposal, while district councils handle rubbish collection, housing and planning applications. County councillors are elected for four-year terms and usually represent a single-member division. Above them, strategic authorities have been created to tackle regional issues across a larger area, without replacing councils.

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 creates in law a category called the Strategic Authority. MHCLG guidance describes three levels: Foundation (no elected mayor), Mayoral, and Established Mayoral, which have access to the broadest devolved powers. The July 2025 area factsheets cover 16 areas, with seven Established Mayoral authorities. Combined authorities are groups of two or more councils taking collective decisions on devolved matters such as transport and regeneration.

Mayors are directly elected for four-year terms. MHCLG's guidance says Mayoral authorities lead on transport as the Local Transport Authority, producing a Local Transport Plan and, for mayors, setting a Key Route Network and holding a power of direction over constituent councils on local highways. Mayors can also appoint commissioners, and where an area's boundaries match, take on police and fire functions. The guidance says mayors cannot also be MPs.

Money comes from several routes. MHCLG says at least £13 billion is confirmed through Integrated Settlements from 2026-27 to 2029-30 for seven Mayoral Strategic Authorities. They can add an optional mayoral council tax precept, which the Act widens to all strategic authority functions, and charge a transport levy to constituent councils. MHCLG consulted until 18 February 2026 on a possible overnight visitor levy power for mayors.

Decisions in combined authorities used to follow rules that differed by area. MHCLG says the Act sets a standard voting method, where a simple majority including the mayor is needed for most decisions, and a standard Devolution Framework of powers for each level. Strategic authorities also gain the General Power of Competence. Scrutiny regimes apply to mayoral authorities, and MHCLG consulted in 2026 on mayoral planning powers.

How to have a say

  1. Check on your local council website whether your area has an elected mayor
  2. Find your local councillors, including your county councillor, by postcode
  3. Respond to open MHCLG and other government consultations, including those on devolution and planning powers for mayors
  4. Read the consultation on planning powers for mayors of strategic authorities, which closed on 5 October 2026 and is being analysed
  5. Register to vote so you can vote in county, combined authority and mayoral elections
  6. Make a Freedom of Information request to a county council or other public authority

The records you can check

Official registers and data

In the UK

Police forces

Water companies

Around the world

The tiers of local government in each country, from the constitution, local government laws and national statistics offices:

Up and down the ladder

Above: Devolved and state governments. Below: Local councils.

Common questions

What does county councils, combined authorities and metro mayors decide?

Regional transport, buses and major roads; Police budgets and priorities (police and crime commissioners); Hospital and community health services (NHS trusts and integrated care boards); Water supply, sewage and bills (water companies, regulated by Ofwat).

Which records show what county councils, combined authorities and metro mayors do?

Police force strength and recorded crime (Home Office, ONS); NHS waiting times and inspection ratings (NHS England, CQC); Water company leaks, spills and bills (Ofwat, Environment Agency); Combined authority budgets and mayoral decisions.

How many combined authorities and metro mayors are there?

MHCLG's area factsheets of 10 July 2025 cover 16 areas: seven Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities, seven Mayoral Strategic Authorities and two Foundation authorities without a mayor. The seven Established ones are Greater London, Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, North East, South Yorkshire, West Midlands and West Yorkshire. Check MHCLG for any change since.

What powers does a metro mayor have?

MHCLG's guidance says mayors lead transport planning through a Local Transport Plan, set a Key Route Network and can direct constituent councils on local highways. They can approve lane rental schemes, appoint commissioners, and take on police and fire functions where boundaries align. The Act also lets them add an optional council tax precept for all strategic authority functions.

How is a metro mayor elected?

Mayors are elected for four-year terms. MHCLG's area factsheets say elections will use the Supplementary Vote, while GOV.UK's voting guide currently describes first past the post for local mayors. MHCLG's Bill guidance said the voting system would change from first past the post. MHCLG's guidance says the legislation prohibits mayors from also being MPs.

What is a strategic authority?

It is a category created in law by the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026. MHCLG guidance says it covers combined authorities, combined county authorities and some single councils, at three levels: Foundation, Mayoral and Established Mayoral. Strategic authorities do not replace councils, which continue to deliver services such as adult social care.

How are combined authorities funded?

MHCLG says seven Mayoral Strategic Authorities share at least £13 billion through Integrated Settlements from 2026-27 to 2029-30. Mayoral Strategic Authorities also receive funding through the Local Government Finance Settlement, including £295.8 million in homelessness grant over three years. They can also levy constituent councils for transport and add a mayoral precept to council tax.

What does a county council do?

GOV.UK says county councils run services across a whole county, including education, transport, planning, fire and public safety, social care, libraries, waste management and trading standards. In two-tier areas district councils handle rubbish collection, housing and planning applications. MHCLG reports an average 2026-27 Band D of £2,452 in shire areas of England.

Sources