Illustration : Thierry Cap de Coume
In England, the question of the status of the metropolitan areas was raised in 1974 with the reform of the regional authorities which abolished the divisions between towns and counties. Six metropolitan counties, representing the biggest agglomerations and 39 non-metropolitan counties then emerged.
Metropolitan Districts: limited authority
Today, the country has no fewer than four levels of authority. First come the nine Government Office Regions: East Midlands, East of England, Greater London (which has special status, see boxed text), North East England, North West England, South East England, South West England, West Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber. These regions are organised along the same lines as the French Préfectures and play
a policy-making role for the British Government. Each is divided into counties or unitary authorities which are themselves made up of districts (245 in all, metropolitan or otherwise). The last level, the parish, is responsible for local issues and the organisation of local life.
The six metropolitan counties (Greater Manchester, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear, West Midlands and West Yorkshire) cover a large urban area, each representing 1.2 to 2.8 million people. In 1985, the metropolitan county councils were abolished and the majority of their functions were transferred to the 36 metropolitan district councils. Today, the metropolitan areas continue to administer certain local services including highways and public transport. The metropolitan district councils run everything concerning urban planning, housing, the civil registry, education, the environment, waste collection, etc.
The Metropolitan Areas join forces
However, regional development remains in the hands of Central Government.
The County Councils would, however, like to play a more influential role in regional politics. The idea of town-regions appeared under the government of Tony Blair, but has given rise to only a few concrete proposals. The districts can nonetheless be thankful for the Local Government Act 2000 that gives local authorities the discretionary power to “take any action they consider will improve the well-being of their citizens”.
To gain international recognition for their role as regional capitals, the towns of Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield did not hesitate to join forces. In 1995 they launched the English Core Cities Group, a network aimed at developing the economic power of these agglomerations. Made up of the main business centres, the Group has played an influential role on the economic stage and is developing partnerships with the government and national and regional agencies.
London: a case apart
In 1985, the Greater London Council met the same fate as the metropolitan counties. Its duties then fell to the 32 London borough councils and to the Corporation of London. Then in 1999, a special authority was created: the Greater London Authority (GLA). Its main task is economic and social development and the improvement of the environment in the agglomeration. Extending over an area of 1,600 m2, it has more than 7.5 million inhabitants. It is run by a mayor and an assembly (elected by direct universal suffrage for four years). The mayor represents the executive power whilst the assembly monitors the mayor’s policies and approves the budget. Four agencies are in charge of exercising the authority of the GLA: The London Transport Authority (bus, tube, taxis and major thoroughfares), the London Development Agency, in charge of economic dynamism, the Metropolitan Police Authority and the Fire and Emergency Planning Authority. One level below is the City of London and 32 boroughs. These have kept their prerogatives. Moreover, a law exists forbidding the Greater London Authority to finance the services it runs.
English 
