There are two current local authority structures in Britain.
In Scotland, Wales & parts of England, a single tier “all-purpose council” is responsible for all local authority
functions (Unitary, Metropolitan or London Borough). Elsewhere in England there is a two-tier system, in which the responsibilities are divided between local authority districts & county councils.
So for mapping purposes a county layer may be represented with some gaps (where the county functions are performed by a unitary authority) and a district layer may have spaces (where the district functions are performed by a unitary authority).
If you need total coverage at county level, opt for the "ceremonial" county data sets which include traditional counties such as Berkshire. |
Example Traditional: Berkshire
Example Current: now 6 unitary authorities: Bracknell Forest, Reading, Slough, West Berkshire, Windsor & Maidenhead, and Wokingham. |
| Local Authorities are subdivided into parishes in many parts of England (the Welsh and Scottish equivalent of parishes are called communities). These administrative units are usually called "civil parishes" & should not be confused with the separate church or ecclesiastical parishes. |
| Local Authority Wards are the building blocks from which higher administrative geographies are built in the UK. For example, unitary authorities, health authorities, Westminster parliamentary constituencies etc. |
