Local authorities of New Ingrea
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This article is part of the series: Politics and government of New Ingrea |
Local government in New Ingrea is formed by three tiers of administration consisting of eight counties, 84 municipalities, and over 600 parishes. Collectively, these bodies are known as local authorities, who between them have a considerable amount of power devolved from the central government.
Overview
The Constitution of New Ingrea provides for the creation and administration of local government in this country. The Constitution states that Parliament shall provide the establishment and continuance of a system of local government. The exact nature of the system is left for Parliament to decide upon, and this is why the significant reforms that created the regional councils were passed without need to amend the Constitution. Unlike some jurisdictions abroad, the Minister of State for Home Affairs cannot override local government by-laws, and nor can he dismiss the elected council of a local authority. The various incarnations of the Local Government Act have stated that such powers rest with Parliament alone.
Subdivisions
As of 2014, the following system of local government operates in New Ingrea.
Counties
The eight county councils of New Ingrea form the highest of the three tiers of local government in this country. Initially created by an Order-in-Council by Charlotte in 1836 to better coordinate the administration of the central government, the counties became their own tier of government with the passage of the Local Government Act of 1885[1].
Municipalities
The counties are in turn divided into 84 municipalities, which depending on the location are known as boroughs or rural districts. Boroughs are used for urban areas, whist rural districts are named for non-urban areas. Under the Local Government Act of 1907, the municipalities inherited many of the functions and powers formerly held by the counties, which were instead charged with the administration of more macro-governing matters such as civil defence, public transport, and the administration of welfare and poor relief.
Parishes
Parishes form the lowest tier of local government in New Ingrea, ranking below the counties and municipalities. Formed in stages from the time of first settlement in 1836, parishes serve their local community by performing basic functions relating to the care and maintenance of the local community and facilities. New Ingrea parishes are unique in that they serve both administrative and ecclesiastical functions, with the Church using parishes as the basic level of administration as well. Parishes are currently administered under the provisions of the 1989 version of the Local Government Act[2] and the Vestries (Powers) Act[3].
Representation
Except for parishes, who have annual elections, the local authorities has a council elected every four years by New Ingrea subjects over twenty-one. Unlike the central government, there is no split between the executive and legislative functions of the council. All such powers are vested in the elected council itself, which are usually exercised by a series of permanent committees.
Counties
The county councils consist of eighteen members known as councillors who elected from multi-member constituencies known as wards. One of their number is subsequently elected Chairman by a show of hands at the first meeting.
Municipalities
The municipal councils will consists of either twelve members known as aldermen. Each alderman is elected from a single-member ward using the system. The Mayor of the municipality is elected by the aldermen at the first meeting of the council after an election.
Parishes
Parishes are administered by a council know as a vestry. Vestries take on two forms, and may be composed of all adult members of the parish, or by a council of ten elected annually. In either form, an executive committee is elected on an annual basis to oversee the functions of the parish.
Functions and powers
The division of powers between the three tiers is presently arranged thus:
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County councils are responsible for:
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Municipal councils are responsible for:
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Parish councils are responsible for:
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