Every May, millions of UK voters are asked to elect their local councillors. Turnout is low (around 35%), media coverage is minimal, and most people have no idea who their councillors are or what they do. Yet local councils control services that affect daily life — bins, planning, libraries, social care, schools, and roads. They set council tax rates, decide whether your planning application is approved, and determine how much you pay to park. Here is how local elections work, what councils do, and why they matter more than you think.
When Local Elections Happen
Local elections in England, Scotland, and Wales are held on the first Thursday in May each year. Not all councils are up for election every year — it depends on the type of council and its election cycle.
Election cycles
- All-out elections — the entire council is elected every four years (common in unitary authorities and some district councils).
- Elections by thirds — one-third of councillors are elected each year, with no election in the fourth year (common in metropolitan boroughs and some district councils).
- Elections by halves — half the council is elected every two years (rare, used by some district councils).
This means that in any given year, only around a third of councils are holding elections. The rest are not up for election.
Who can vote
You can vote in local elections if you are:
- 18 or over on polling day
- A UK, Irish, or Commonwealth citizen (or an EU citizen in Scotland and Wales)
- Registered to vote at your current address
You must register at least 12 working days before polling day. You can register online at gov.uk/register-to-vote.
What Councils Do
Local councils (also called local authorities) provide services that affect daily life, but most people do not know what they are responsible for.
The main services
- Bins and recycling — collecting household waste and recycling (the most visible council service).
- Planning — deciding whether to approve planning applications for new buildings, extensions, and developments.
- Libraries — running public libraries (though many have closed due to budget cuts).
- Parks and leisure — maintaining parks, playgrounds, and sports facilities.
- Social care — providing care for elderly people, disabled people, and vulnerable children (the largest single item in most council budgets).
- Schools — some councils (county councils and unitary authorities) are responsible for schools, though many schools are now academies and outside council control.
- Roads and street lighting — maintaining local roads, pavements, and street lights (not motorways or major A-roads, which are the responsibility of Highways England).
- Housing — providing social housing and homelessness services (though most social housing is now managed by housing associations).
What councils do not do
Councils do not control:
- The NHS — health services are run by NHS trusts, not councils (though councils have some responsibility for public health).
- The police — policing is the responsibility of police forces, overseen by elected Police and Crime Commissioners (not councils).
- Benefits — most benefits (Universal Credit, pensions) are paid by the Department for Work and Pensions, not councils (though councils administer Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support).
How Councils Are Structured
England has a complex system of local government, with different types of councils in different areas.
Unitary authorities
Unitary authorities are single-tier councils that provide all local services (bins, planning, social care, schools, roads). They are common in cities and large towns (e.g., Bristol, Brighton, Leicester, Nottingham).
Two-tier system
In some areas, there are two tiers of local government:
- County councils — cover large areas and provide social care, schools, roads, and libraries.
- District councils — cover smaller areas within the county and provide bins, planning, housing, and leisure.
For example, in Oxfordshire, there is Oxfordshire County Council (covering the whole county) and five district councils (Oxford, Cherwell, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, West Oxfordshire).
This system is confusing, and the government has been trying to abolish it by merging county and district councils into unitary authorities.
Metropolitan boroughs
Metropolitan boroughs are unitary authorities in large urban areas (e.g., Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool). They provide all local services.
London boroughs
London boroughs are unitary authorities in London (e.g., Camden, Westminster, Hackney). They provide all local services except transport and policing, which are the responsibility of the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the Mayor of London.
Scotland and Wales
Scotland and Wales have simpler systems:
- Scotland — 32 unitary authorities (e.g., Edinburgh, Glasgow, Highland).
- Wales — 22 unitary authorities (e.g., Cardiff, Swansea, Gwynedd).
How Councils Are Funded
Councils are funded by three main sources:
1. Council tax
Council tax is a property tax paid by households. The amount you pay depends on the value of your property (properties are divided into bands A–H, with band D being the average) and the council tax rate set by your council.
The average council tax in England in 2024–25 is £2,065 per year for a band D property, but it varies widely by area (from £1,200 in Westminster to £2,500 in Rutland).
Council tax raises around £40 billion per year, accounting for around 25% of council budgets.
2. Business rates
Business rates are a property tax paid by businesses. The amount depends on the value of the business property and the business rates multiplier set by the government.
Business rates raise around £25 billion per year, but most of this is collected by central government and redistributed to councils.
3. Central government grants
The rest of council funding comes from central government grants. The largest is the Revenue Support Grant, which is allocated based on need (poorer areas get more).
Since 2010, central government grants have been cut by 40% in real terms, forcing councils to raise council tax and cut services.
The Budget Crisis
Local councils are in financial crisis. Since 2010, council budgets have been cut by 21% in real terms (after adjusting for inflation and rising demand for services). At the same time, demand for social care has soared as the population ages.
The result is:
- Libraries closed — over 800 libraries have closed since 2010.
- Youth services cut — spending on youth services has fallen by 70% since 2010.
- Potholes unfilled — councils cannot afford to maintain roads.
- Social care rationed — only the most vulnerable receive care.
Several councils have declared bankruptcy (officially, issued a Section 114 notice), including Birmingham, Croydon, Slough, and Thurrock. This means they cannot balance their budgets and must cut all non-essential spending.
Why Turnout Is So Low
Turnout in local elections averages 35%, compared to 60% in general elections. Why?
1. Lack of media coverage
Local elections get minimal media coverage. National newspapers and TV focus on Westminster, not town halls. Most voters do not know who their councillors are or what they do.
2. Voter apathy
Many voters do not think local elections matter, or they do not understand what councils do. The complexity of the system (unitary authorities, two-tier councils, metropolitan boroughs) adds to the confusion.
3. National politics
Local elections are often treated as a referendum on the national government. Voters punish the party in power at Westminster, regardless of what local councillors have done. This means local issues are ignored, and councillors are judged on national politics.
4. Safe seats
Most council wards are safe seats, where one party always wins. In these wards, opposition voters know their vote will not change the outcome, which depresses turnout.
Why Local Elections Matter
Despite low turnout, local elections matter because:
- Councils control services you use every day — bins, planning, libraries, parks, roads.
- They set council tax — the amount you pay depends on who controls your council.
- They are a check on the national government — local elections can force the government to change course if voters punish them.
- They are a training ground for future MPs — many MPs start as councillors.
The Bottom Line
Local elections are held on the first Thursday in May each year, with around a third of councils up for election in any given year. Councils are responsible for bins, planning, libraries, social care, schools, and roads — services that affect daily life but get little media attention. Turnout averages 35%, reflecting voter apathy and lack of media coverage. Councils are funded by council tax, business rates, and central government grants, but have faced real-terms budget cuts of 21% since 2010, leading to library closures, social care rationing, and several councils declaring bankruptcy. Local elections are often treated as a referendum on the national government, with voters punishing the party in power at Westminster. Despite low turnout, local elections matter because councils control services you use every day and set the council tax you pay. If you want better bins, faster planning decisions, and more libraries, vote in your local elections.