In England, the definition of a county has become blury. Traditionally, there have been 39 counties. However, with the Local Government Act of 1972 the country was reorganized into bouroughs, counties, districts and cities. Currently, there are 34 counties with Administrative Councils. These councils are responsible for services in the areas of education, transport, strategic planning, fire services, consumer protection, refuse disposal, small holdings, social services, and libraries.
Each county maintains a website that functions as a guide to the councils' services and activities. The different county sites are similar in content and include links to information about businesses, council members, education, libraries, transportation, tourism and other areas of responsibility charged to the councils. However, it is important to note that these are the webpages for the councils not the homepages for the towns and communities within the county's area of operation, though many council pages provide links to community information and homepages.
Below is an alphabetical list of England's Administrative County Councils. Because of the similar content of each site, only unique characteristics and descriptions of councils or counties found on the web sites have been included below.
Bedfordshire- With its southern borders only 30 miles from London, the county of Bedfordshire is the gateway to the Midlands and East Anglia.
Buckinghamshire- This site provides a directory and links to council related activities and programs.
Cambridgeshire- This includes a brief explanation of the Structure of Local Government in Cambridgeshire, identifying which local authorities are responsible for the provision of the various services provided by local government. Information about the County Council, its services and funding and how it is organised. Information about new democratic arrangements which are to be implemented by the Council from June 2001.
Cheshire- Cheshire is in the northwest of England. The boundaries of the area covered by Cheshire County Council have changed 3 times in the last fifty years. Many places that have a postal address of Cheshire are no longer in the area covered by Cheshire County Council.
Cornwall- This site's main focus is on the Cornwall Couny Councils activities and the services it provides to it's constituants.
Cumbria- Cumbria County Council is a directly elected body providing a wide range of important public services for the people of Cumbria. The Council also champions the interests of Cumbria at regional, national and European levels. The Council has 84 elected members, each representing a single electoral division. The last Council elections in June 2001 returned 40 Labour members, 33 Conservative members, 10 Liberal Democrat members and 1 Independent member.
Derbyshire- All the services provided by Derbyshire County Council are listed here alphabetically.
Devon- The county council was formed in 1888 and its history reflects the changing way of life for Devon since that time. It is one layer of local government within the county The headquarters of the county council is county hall in Exeter, and it has a written constitution setting out how decisions are made and how the council operates. Devon is the only county twinned with a county in France and is also responsible for the office of Lord Lieutenant.
Dorset- Information on Dorset County Council, how it works, how to contact your county councillor as well as details about parish, town, district and borough councils, MPs and MEPs in Dorset, and election information.
Durham- Durham County Council aims to make County Durham the best place to work, live and bring up a family. We hope our website will provide useful information and resources relating to our services...
East Sussex- In May 1999, the County Council introduced a new system of political management on a pilot basis. This provided a more open and democratic structure, making it easier for the public to see where and how decisions are made.
Essex- Every 4 years the voters in Essex elect 79 county councillors and each councillor represents a separate area known as a 'division'. In this section you can find out about the political makeup of the council. You can also find the name and address of your local county councillor, list the councillors alphabetically by name or by political party, or by the district council area they represent.
Gloucestershire- Gloucestershire is an English county situated at the northern edge of the south west region of the United Kingdom. It covers an area of 1,025 square miles including the largest Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the country. Essentially a rural county, it has been known since Roman times for farming, forestry and horticulture with an industrial history featuring the wool trade.
Hampshire- The County Council consists of 74 councillors, who together represent the whole county. These councillors decide the budgets and policies for the vital local services which are provided by Hampshire County Council. Elections are held every four years, giving you the chance to influence County Council policies. The last elections were held in June 2001 and the next are due in May 2005.
Hertfordshire- Like the Members of Parliament at Westminster, local councillors are voted in by residents to act on their behalf. Subject always to legislation enacted by Parliament, its local councillors who take the decisions on where money is spent, what council taxes will be charged and how local services will be developed.
Kent- Site has section of homepage devoted to "Kent's big issues."
Lancashire- Lancashire County Council is proud to contribute to the lives of people in the county. Lancashire County Council serves a population of 1.1 million people of all ages, ethnic origins and social backgrounds.
Leicestershire- Leicestershire has a 3-tier system of local government, consisting of the County Council, 7 Borough/District Councils, and Parish Councils. This arrangement applies across the whole county except for the bigger towns where the Parish level does not exist, and the Borough/District takes on the work of the Parish Council. The City of Leicester is a separate authority (see below).
Lincolnshire- We have merged our two most popular websites, Linnet and LCC Connect to provide a single source of community and council information for our citizens and visitors.
Norfolk- Norfolk County Council is the local authority for Norfolk. Find out who represents you, read about the issues being discussed in Council meeetings, or come along and hear for yourself.
Northamptonshire- There are 73 county councillors each representing different areas of the county. All the county councillors are elected. As well as elections councillors hold meetings in their areas. People of any age can write a letter, send a petition, attend council meetings and ask questions at a council meeting.
Northumberland- Northumberland is England's most northerly county, and has coastlines and countryside of outstanding natural beauty together with a rich and colourful history dating back to ancient times.
North Yorkshire- Over half a million people live in the 3200 square miles of North Yorkshire, and the County Council provides them with essential services including education for life, community care for people of all ages, communications links and public protection all year round.
Nottinghamshire- Nottinghamshire is situated in the very heart of England and covers an area of 2,160 sq km (834 sq miles). More than a million people live in the county and it has a working population of over 490,000, with the largest concentration found in the Greater Nottingham conurbation, with its population of more than 600,000.
Oxfordshire- Oxfordshire County Council provides a range of key services to the people of Oxfordshire. Each year the Council manages £0.5 billion of public money in the provision of these services on behalf of Oxfordshire’s 622,000 people.
Shropshire- This website contains a wide range of local information and services for people who are living in, working in, or visiting Shropshire. There are links to all the local authorities in the county as well as useful links to other organisations.
Somerset- Somerset County Council provides a diverse range of services to the public of Somerset, services which cover all ages and all walks of life. The County Council has been in existence for over 100 years, and is looking forward to continuing its service to the people of Somerset.
Staffordshire - Staffordshire is at the heart of the geographical and industrial heartland of Britain, and at the heart of Staffordshire is its County Council. Staffordshire County Council is the biggest employer in the county. We have over 30,000 staff including teachers, administrative workers, road engineers, scientists, crossing patrol wardens, social workers and librarians. We provide you with vital services, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Suffolk- Residents are represented by one of 80 county councillors - men and women who are elected every four years by the residents of Suffolk to represent them and make decisions on their behalf. The next elections will be in May 2005. Each councillor represents an area called an electoral division. Large towns may be split into several divisions, in rural areas groups of parishes make up a single division. On average each county councillor represents around 7,000 people.
Surrey- Surrey County Council provides you with a wide range of public services. Our priorities for the year are set out in our performance plan which is called Making Surrey a Better Place. The Forward Plan of Key Decisions contains information about all the key decisions the Executive will be asked to take within the next four months. The plan is reviewed monthly.
Warwickshire- Based in the heart of the English Midlands, Warwickshire County Council provides services for over half a million residents.
West Sussex- West Sussex County Council is made up of 71 members elected to represent their local communities. The County Chairman is the apolitical guardian of the interests of all members of the Council and its processes as well as being its principal non-political representative.Wiltshire- The Council is composed of 47 councillors, elected every four years. Councillors are democratically accountable to residents of their electoral division and together represent the whole of Wiltshire. The names and addresses of all councillors together with membership of political groups are published on the Council Website
Worcestershire- We are here to provide high quality services to customers inside and outside the County Council and to bring democratically determined benefits to the present and future communities of Worcestershire in an economic and effective way.