unitary authority

Administrative unit of Great Britain. Since 1996 the two-tier structure of local government has ceased to exist in Scotland and Wales, and in some parts of England, and has been replaced by unitary authorities, responsible for all local government services.

Following the review of local government structure by the Local Government Commission set up by the Local Government Act 1992, the counties of Avon, Cleveland, and Humberside, their districts, and the district of York City were abolished, and 13 unitary authorities were created in their place. These came into existence in April 1996. In 1997 13 further unitary authorities were established, and 19 in 1998, making a total of 46 unitary authorities in England, in addition to the existing London and Metropolitan boroughs, which already had unitary powers. The Isle of Wight became a unitary authority in 1995. In some counties the two-tier structure has been retained. The act also abolished the counties and their districts in Wales, creating 22 unitary authorities in their place from 1996, and abolished the regional councils and their districts in Scotland, creating 29 new unitary authorities from 1996, making a total of 32.