Local Government

Local government is divided in a two-tier system into county councils and district councils. At its most basic, the county council deals with policy and issues that affect an entire county such as Hampshire, while a district council, such as Winchester district council, is a more specifically local body. Some cities are large enough that the county and district councils are a part of the some body, in which case it is a one-tier system called a unitary authority.

County Councils

County councils have an elected cabinet, lead by one person, with elections every four years. This is not the county's elected MP, who, though a representative of the electorate, has nothing to do with local government. Although there is some level of democracy in county councils, most decisions will not be debated as there are far too many, and democratic action would be too slow. The county council has a budget that is then divided up between the district councils; exactly how this money is spent comes down to the district council.

Though civil servants cannot have a political opinion, the elected members of the county cabinet belong to a party. County and district councils may come to clashes because of this, for example when Tory and Lib Dem policy contradict, such as in the issue of what cuts will fall. The county council does not necessarily have a final say in every issue despite being the more dominant in the two-tier system.

District Councils

District councils govern over the smaller segments of a council. In Hampshire alone there are eleven district councils, of which Winchester is one of. Districts are further broken up into wards, with a councillor in charge of each. The council is the first port of call for any local issues, such as road maintenance, housing and planning permission. Winchester is a typical district council, as one councillor, Kelsie Learney, has described: the major issues today is the Barton Farm housing development and road maintenance after the harsh winter.

A council's budget is dependent on its size. Winchester has a £12 million budget, which is only a tiny cut of the county's almost £2 billion budget. This budget has to cover all things under the county's purview: education, transport and housing are perhaps the three major issues. Though the county council tells the districts how much is to be cut in 2011 and in the next few years, it comes down to the district to decide where these cuts will fall exactly. As of the last few years, the district (as well as county) council must also be transparent with the where tax payer money is spent, declaring all expenditure over £500. This increased transparency brings the council closer to the public they represent, who may call and enquire over how much is spent on what.