Principal councilsE
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F3Words in s. 2(2A) repealed (4.5.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 2, Sch. 25 Pt. 4; S.I. 2012/1008, art. 4(b)(c)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)
S. 2(1) excluded (1.4.1998) by S.I. 1996/1863, arts. 1, 6(4)
S. 2(1) excluded (1.4.1998) by S.I. 1996/1865, arts. 1, 6(4)
S. 2(1) excluded (1.4.1998) by S.I. 1996/1866, arts. 1, 6(3)
S. 2(1) excluded (1.4.1998) by S.I. 1996/1867, arts. 1, 5(3)
S. 2(1) excluded (1.4.1998) by S.I. 1996/1868, arts. 1, 6(4)
S. 2(1) excluded (1.4.1998) by S.I. 1996/1875, arts. 1, 6(4)
S. 2(1) excluded (1.4.1998) by S.I. 1996/1876, arts. 1, 5(3)
S. 2(1) applied (with modifications) (temp. from 5.5.1997 to 31.3.1998) by S.I. 1996/1867, art. 20
C3S. 2(1) excluded (5.3.2008) by The Cheshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/634), art. 3(4)
C4S. 2(1) excluded (5.3.2008) by The Cheshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/634), art. 4(4)
C5S. 2(1) excluded (28.3.2008) by The Bedfordshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/907), art. 3(2), 4(2)
C6S. 2(1) excluded (25.3.2010) by The Norwich and Norfolk (Structural Changes) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/997), arts. 1, 3(3)
S. 2(1) excluded (25.3.2010) by The Exeter and Devon (Structural Changes) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/998), arts. 1, 3(3)
C7S. 2(1) excluded (26.5.2018) by The Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole (Structural Changes) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/648), arts. 1, 7(2)
C8S. 2(1) excluded (26.5.2018) by The Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole (Structural Changes) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/648), arts. 1, 3(2)
C9S. 2(1) excluded (23.5.2019) by The Buckinghamshire (Structural Changes) Order 2019 (S.I. 2019/957), arts. 1, 3(2)
C10S. 2(1) excluded (14.2.2020) by The Northamptonshire (Structural Changes) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/156), arts. 1, 4(4)
C11S. 2(1) excluded (14.2.2020) by The Northamptonshire (Structural Changes) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/156), arts. 1, 3(4)
C12S. 2(1) excluded (18.3.2022) by The Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/331), arts. 1(1), 3(5)
C13S. 2(1) excluded (18.3.2022) by The Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/331), arts. 1(1), 4(5)
C14S. 2(2) applied (with modifications) (temp. from 8.5.1995 to 31.3.1996) by S.I. 1995/493, art. 18(a)
S. 2(2) applied (with modifications) (temp. from 8.5.1995 to 31.3.1996) by S.I. 1995/610, art. 15(a)
S. 2(2) applied (with modifications) (temp. from 6.5.1996 to 31.3.1997) by S.I. 1995/1770, art. 16(a)
S. 2(2) applied (with modifications) (temp. from 5.5.1997 to 31.3.1998) by S.I. 1996/1867, art. 20
S. 2(2) applied (with modifications)(temp. from 5.5.1997 to 31.3.1998) by S.I. 1996/1876, art. 13(a)
C15S. 2(2) modified (temp.) (5.3.2008) by The Cheshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/634), art. 4(3)(b)
C16S. 2(2) modified (temp.) (5.3.2008) by The Cheshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/634), art. 3(3)(b)
C17S. 2(2) modified (temp.) (28.3.2008) by The Bedfordshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/907), art. 4(4)(b)
C18S. 2(2) modified (26.5.2018) by The Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole (Structural Changes) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/648), arts. 1, 3(4)
C19S. 2(2) modified (26.5.2018) by The Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole (Structural Changes) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/648), arts. 1, 7(4)
C20S. 2(2) applied (with modifications) (temp.) (23.5.2019) by The Buckinghamshire (Structural Changes) Order 2019 (S.I. 2019/957), arts. 1, 3(4)
C21S. 2(2) applied (with modifications) (temp.) (14.2.2020) by The Northamptonshire (Structural Changes) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/156), arts. 1, 4(3)(b)
C22S. 2(2) applied (with modifications) (temp.) (14.2.2020) by The Northamptonshire (Structural Changes) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/156), arts. 1, 3(3)(b)
C23S. 2(2) modified (18.3.2022) by The Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/331), arts. 1(1), 4(4)
C24S. 2(2) modified (18.3.2022) by The Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/331), arts. 1(1), 3(4)
C25S. 2(3) restricted by The Wiltshire (Structural Change) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/490), art. 3(3) (as inserted (31.3.2009) by S.I. 2009/837, art. 6)
C26S. 2(3) restricted by The Cornwall (Structural Change) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/491), art. 3(3) (as inserted (31.3.2009) by S.I. 2009/837, art. 3)
C27S. 2(3) restricted by The Shropshire (Structural Change) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/492), art. 3(3) (as inserted (31.3.2009) by S.I. 2009/837, art. 5)
C28S. 2(3) restricted by The County Durham (Structural Change) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/493), art. 3(3) (as inserted (31.3.2009) by S.I. 2009/837, art. 7)
C29S. 2(3) restricted by The Northumberland (Structural Change) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/494), art. 3(3) (as inserted (31.3.2009) by S.I. 2009/837, art. 4)
C30S. 2(3) restricted (18.3.2022) by The North Yorkshire (Structural Changes) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/328), arts. 1(1), 3(3)
C31S. 2(3) restricted (18.3.2022) by The Somerset (Structural Changes) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/329), arts. 1(1), 3(3)