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| Local authorities in South Yorkshire | |
|---|---|
| Name | Local authorities in South Yorkshire |
| Region | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| Counties | South Yorkshire |
| Major cities | Sheffield, Doncaster (Metropolitan Borough), Rotherham, Barnsley |
| Established | 1974 |
| Population | 1.4 million (approx.) |
Local authorities in South Yorkshire are the councils and joint bodies administering public functions across Sheffield, Doncaster (Metropolitan Borough), Rotherham, and Barnsley. They operate within the legal frameworks set by statutes such as the Local Government Act 1972 and the Localism Act 2011, interacting with regional bodies including the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and national departments like the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
South Yorkshire comprises four metropolitan districts—Sheffield, Doncaster (Metropolitan Borough), Rotherham, and Barnsley—each governed by an elected council formed under the Local Government Act 1985 and influenced by the restructuring in the Local Government Act 1972. These councils liaise with statutory bodies including the Office for National Statistics, the Environment Agency, and the Care Quality Commission while engaging with institutions like NHS England, Police and Crime Commissioner for South Yorkshire, and the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. Municipal services involve interactions with national regulators such as Ofsted and agencies including Historic England and the Highways Agency.
The metropolitan county of South Yorkshire was created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972, succeeding administrative arrangements rooted in historic counties like Yorkshire, West Riding of Yorkshire, and boroughs such as Sheffield City Council (with antecedents in 1843) and Doncaster Borough Council. The abolition of South Yorkshire County Council in 1986 under the Local Government Act 1985 led to the rise of joint arrangements and combined authorities, a trend formalised by the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016. Devolution deals involving the Mayor of South Yorkshire reflect precedents set by Greater Manchester Combined Authority, West Midlands Combined Authority, and the Tees Valley Combined Authority. Industrial shifts influenced by events like the decline of the Coal Industry Act era, closures of pits tied to the Miners' Strike (1984–85), and regeneration projects such as those around Sheffield City Centre and Doncaster Sheffield Airport shaped council priorities.
Councils in South Yorkshire carry statutory duties set out in acts including the Local Government Finance Act 1992, Children Act 1989, Care Act 2014, and Housing Act 1985. Elected councillors operate under codes influenced by the Local Government Transparency Code and scrutiny processes mirrored in institutions like the Select Committee on Communities and Local Government. They coordinate with bodies such as the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, the South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, South Yorkshire Police, and the Environment Agency on transport, health commissioning, planning, and flood risk. Strategic planning references national policy instruments like the National Planning Policy Framework and regional strategies shaped by entities such as the Yorkshire and the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership.
The four metropolitan borough councils—Sheffield City Council, Doncaster Council, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, and Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council—function as single-tier authorities akin to unitary authorities like City of York Council and Nottingham City Council. They oversee services from social care governed by NHS England interfaces to housing managed under the Homes and Communities Agency framework. Council compositions involve party groups including the Labour Party (UK), Conservative Party (UK), Liberal Democrats (UK), and local independents following electoral cycles governed by the Local Government Act 2000 and regulations from the Electoral Commission.
Joint bodies in South Yorkshire include the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and thematic consortia parallel to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. The Mayor of South Yorkshire interacts with entities like the Transport for the North partnership, Network Rail, National Highways, and the Civil Aviation Authority regarding infrastructure projects such as rail electrification, tram-train trials with partners like Sheffield Supertram, and airport development referencing Doncaster Sheffield Airport. Collaboration extends to the South Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, and cross-boundary initiatives with Barnsley College, Sheffield Hallam University, and University of Sheffield on skills and economic development.
Financial regimes for South Yorkshire councils derive from legislation including the Local Government Finance Act 1992, Business Rates Retention Scheme, and mandates from the Treasury (HM Treasury). Revenue streams include council tax bands defined under the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992 and business rates administered with guidance from the Valuation Office Agency. Funding mechanisms incorporate grants from central government, capital receipts, prudential borrowing under the Local Government Act 2003, and devolved investment via devolution deals modelled on the Northern Powerhouse agenda. Audit and accountability involve the National Audit Office standards and external auditors regulated by the Financial Reporting Council.
Service delivery is evaluated against standards from Ofsted (children's services), the Care Quality Commission (adult social care interfaces), Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services for policing and fire, and performance frameworks from the Local Government Association. Metrics include indicators used by the Index of Multiple Deprivation, public health outcomes tracked with Public Health England datasets, and transportation performance monitored via Department for Transport statistics. Councils publish outcomes in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and transparency expectations promoted by the Local Government Association and benchmarking networks like the District Council Network.
Category:Local government in South Yorkshire