Local Government Act 1972

Changes over time for: Section 2

Alternative versions:

Changes to legislation:

Local Government Act 1972, Section 2 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 23 December 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.

View outstanding changes

Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 2:

s. 101(6ZA) inserted by 2023 c. 55 Sch. 12 para. 2
s. 123(2C) inserted by 2023 c. 55 s. 75

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):

s. 101(6ZA) inserted by 2023 c. 55 Sch. 12 para. 2
s. 123(2C) inserted by 2023 c. 55 s. 75

2 Constitution of principal councils in England.E

(1)For every [F1non-metropolitan] county there shall be a council consisting of a chairman and councillors and the council shall have all such functions as are vested in them by this Act or otherwise.

(2)For every district there shall be a council consisting of a chairman and councillors and the council shall have all such functions as are vested in them by this Act or otherwise.

[F2(2A)Where a council mentioned in subsection (1) or (2) above are operating executive arrangements which involve a mayor and cabinet executive F3..., the council shall consist of an elected mayor, a chairman and councillors.]

[F4(2B)In such a case, a reference in this Act to a member of a council is a reference to—

(a)the elected mayor of the council,

(b)the chairman of the council, or

(c)a councillor of the council.]

(3)Each council mentioned in subsection (1) or (2) above shall be a body corporate by the name “The County Council” or “The District Council”, as the case may be, with the addition of the name of the particular county or district.

Textual Amendments

F1Word inserted by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), ss. 1, 102, Sch. 16 para. 2

F2S. 2(2A) inserted (26.10.2000) by 2000 c. 22, ss. 46, 108(4), Sch. 3 para. 1(1)(2); S.I. 2000/2849, art. 2(e)

F3Words in s. 2(2A) repealed (4.5.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 2, Sch. 25 Pt. 4; S.I. 2012/1008, art. 4(b)(c)

F4S. 2(2B) inserted (30.12.2007) by Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (c. 28), ss. 74(1), 245(2), Sch. 3 para. 2(2)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1S. 2(2A) restricted by 2000 c. 22, s. 9H(5) (as inserted (3.12.2011 for specified purposes, 9.3.2012 in so far as not already in force) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 2 para. 1; S.I. 2011/2896, art. 2(e); S.I. 2012/628, art. 2(a))

C2S. 2(1) excluded (1.4.1996) by S.I. 1995/493, arts. 1, 6(2)

S. 2(1) excluded (1.4.1996) by S.I. 1995/610, arts. 1, 4(2)

S. 2(1) excluded (1.4.1996) by S.I. 1995/1747, arts. 1(2), 3(2)-(6)

S. 2(1) excluded (1.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/1769, arts. 1, 8(3)

S. 2(1) excluded (1.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/1770, arts. 1, 5(3)

S. 2(1) excluded (1.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/1771, arts. 1, 8(4)

S. 2(1) excluded (1.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/1772, arts. 1, 8(3)

S. 2(1) excluded (1.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/1773, arts. 1, 8(3)

S. 2(1) excluded (1.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/1774, arts. 1, 8(3)

S. 2(1) excluded (1.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/1775, arts. 1, 8(4)

S. 2(1) excluded (1.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/1776, arts. 1, 8(3)

S. 2(1) excluded (1.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/1779, arts. 1, 3(3)