NCTJ PUBLIC AFFAIRS EXAM SCRIPT 2026 FULL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
◉ Two-tier authority. Answer: Structure of local government
Two-tiers of governance - county and district/ borough
Each tier has different responsibilities
Most councils had this structure up until 1990
After 1990, loads of mergers took place and unitary authorities were
created
◉ Hybrid authority. Answer: Structure of local government
In areas where two-tier and unitary authorities co-exist
e.g. Brighton and Hove City Council (unitary) exists alongside a two-tier
structure of East Sussex County Council and several lower tier
authorities, including Lewes district council
◉ Unitary authority. Answer: Structure of local government
Integrated approach to governance, they run all local services
Mergers after 1990's led to creation of these
,◉ Combined authority. Answer: Structure of local government
New tier of local government
In nine areas (e.g. Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region)
Resources of two or more existing councils are 'pooled'
Allows neighbouring councils to collaborate and make collective
decisions (e.g. on transport which spans across multiple council areas)
Get additional funding
◉ Powers of combined authority. Answer: Integrated transport authority
Economic prosperity board
Can borrow money on open market
Elected mayors (e.g Burnham)
In Manchester, this authority controls the NHS budget and policing
◉ Cornwall Council. Answer: Created a unitary authority in 2009
Merger of one county and six district councils
123 members
Boundary Commission proposed to reduce member numbers to 87
Budget = £1 billion +
◉ Metropolitan districts. Answer: Structure of local government
,Govern metropolitan (city) areas
Effectively unitary authorities
e.g. Greater Manchester, Merseyside
◉ Responsibilities of county councils. Answer: Education (schools, FE)
Social services
Highways
Refuse disposal (landfill)
Emergency planning
Culture and leisure
Strategic planning
Passenger transport
Unitary authorities run all of these
◉ Responsibilities of district/ borough councils. Answer: Environmental
health
Development control
Housing and homeless
Refuse collection and recycling
Council tax collection
Car parks
, Strategic planning
Licensing
Unitary authorities run all of these
◉ Local government services and Whitehall. Answer: For each service
provided by a local authority, the authority works closely with the
appropriate Whitehall department(s)
Local: Highways
Central: Dept. for Transport
Local: Council Tax
Central: Treasury and Dept. for Housing, Communities and Local
Government
◉ Parish and Town councils. Answer: 9,000/ 10,000 of these in England
Beneath district/ borough or unitary councils
Often have mayors (ceremonial)
Towns with more than 150 residents must have a council
Towns with less than 150 must meet annually
Known as community councils in Wales and Scotland
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
◉ Two-tier authority. Answer: Structure of local government
Two-tiers of governance - county and district/ borough
Each tier has different responsibilities
Most councils had this structure up until 1990
After 1990, loads of mergers took place and unitary authorities were
created
◉ Hybrid authority. Answer: Structure of local government
In areas where two-tier and unitary authorities co-exist
e.g. Brighton and Hove City Council (unitary) exists alongside a two-tier
structure of East Sussex County Council and several lower tier
authorities, including Lewes district council
◉ Unitary authority. Answer: Structure of local government
Integrated approach to governance, they run all local services
Mergers after 1990's led to creation of these
,◉ Combined authority. Answer: Structure of local government
New tier of local government
In nine areas (e.g. Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region)
Resources of two or more existing councils are 'pooled'
Allows neighbouring councils to collaborate and make collective
decisions (e.g. on transport which spans across multiple council areas)
Get additional funding
◉ Powers of combined authority. Answer: Integrated transport authority
Economic prosperity board
Can borrow money on open market
Elected mayors (e.g Burnham)
In Manchester, this authority controls the NHS budget and policing
◉ Cornwall Council. Answer: Created a unitary authority in 2009
Merger of one county and six district councils
123 members
Boundary Commission proposed to reduce member numbers to 87
Budget = £1 billion +
◉ Metropolitan districts. Answer: Structure of local government
,Govern metropolitan (city) areas
Effectively unitary authorities
e.g. Greater Manchester, Merseyside
◉ Responsibilities of county councils. Answer: Education (schools, FE)
Social services
Highways
Refuse disposal (landfill)
Emergency planning
Culture and leisure
Strategic planning
Passenger transport
Unitary authorities run all of these
◉ Responsibilities of district/ borough councils. Answer: Environmental
health
Development control
Housing and homeless
Refuse collection and recycling
Council tax collection
Car parks
, Strategic planning
Licensing
Unitary authorities run all of these
◉ Local government services and Whitehall. Answer: For each service
provided by a local authority, the authority works closely with the
appropriate Whitehall department(s)
Local: Highways
Central: Dept. for Transport
Local: Council Tax
Central: Treasury and Dept. for Housing, Communities and Local
Government
◉ Parish and Town councils. Answer: 9,000/ 10,000 of these in England
Beneath district/ borough or unitary councils
Often have mayors (ceremonial)
Towns with more than 150 residents must have a council
Towns with less than 150 must meet annually
Known as community councils in Wales and Scotland
