Local Government Act 2000

The Local Government Act 2000 (c.22) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales. Its principal purposes are:

• to give powers to local authorities to promote economic, social and environmental well-being within their boundaries

• to require local authorities to shift from their traditional committee-based system of decision-making to an executive model, possibly with a directly elected mayor (subject to approval by referendum), and with a cabinet of ruling party group members

• to create a consequent separation of functions with local authorities, with backbench councillors fulfilling an overview and scrutiny role

• to introduce a revised ethical framework for local authorities, requiring the adoption of codes of conduct for elected members and standards committees to implement the codes of conduct; the introduction of a national Standards Board and Adjudication Panel to deal with complaints and to oversee disciplinary issues

The introduction of directly elected mayors was the most radical innovation in the Act. About thirty local referendums have been held, the majority of which have decided against the elected mayor option.

Options for council executive forms

The act provided that the executive of a local authority must take one of the following forms:

• Leader and cabinet executive
• Mayor and cabinet executive
• Mayor and council manager executive
• Alternative arrangement

The mayor and council manager...
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