Borough, County and Metropolitan Councils What’s the difference?

​Local councils make decisions that affect everyday life — from planning and transport to adult social care, children’s services, and local spending.
This site explains how Solihull Council works: who holds power, how decisions are made, what scrutiny is meant to do, and where accountability can break down.
While examples are drawn from Solihull Council, the structures and processes described here apply to most borough, metropolitan, and county councils in England, particularly those facing full elections in 2026.
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Borough, County and Metropolitan CouncilsWhat’s the difference?

​England does not have one single type of council.
Different areas are governed in different ways — and knowing which type of council you have explains who is responsible for what.
This page explains the main council types, using Solihull as the reference point.

Why this is confusing. Most people simply hear “the council”.
In reality:

• some areas have one council
• others have two layers
• and responsibilities are split differently depending on where you live

This is why residents in neighbouring areas can have very different experiences — even though both pay council tax.

County councilsCounty councils cover large geographic areas, often including towns, villages, and rural districts.
They are usually responsible for:

• education and schools
• children’s services
• adult social care
• highways and major roads
• public health
• libraries

County councils work alongside district or borough councils.
Examples include Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, and Devon.

District and borough councilsDistrict or borough councils sit underneath county councils in two-tier areas.
They are usually responsible for:

• local planning decisions
• housing and homelessness
• waste collection and recycling
• local environmental services
• council tax collection

In these areas:

• residents vote in district elections
• and also vote in county elections, often at different times

Metropolitan councilsMetropolitan councils are single-tier authorities serving large urban areas.
They combine county- and district-level responsibilities into one council.
Metropolitan councils usually control:

• education
• social care
• planning
• housing
• highways
• waste
• local transport

Solihull Council is a metropolitan borough council.
This means:

• there is one main council responsible for most local services
• residents vote in one set of council elections
• accountability is more concentrated

What about combined authorities and mayors?Some metropolitan areas also sit within combined authorities.
These may include:

• transport bodies
• economic development functions
• a directly elected regional mayor

Solihull is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority.
This adds another layer — but it does not replace Solihull Council.
Understanding which decisions sit where helps avoid blame being misplaced.

Why this matters to voters in SolihullBecause Solihull has a single main council:

• decisions are more centralised
• Cabinet holds significant power
• scrutiny becomes especially important
• there is no “other council” to pass responsibility to

When something goes wrong, it is usually clear which council is responsible — even if that is not always obvious in public debate.

A quick comparisonCouncil typeHow many councils?Who runs services?County + DistrictTwoSplit responsibilities
MetropolitanOneSingle main council
UnitaryOneSingle main councilSolihull falls into the metropolitan category.

Does this apply elsewhere?Yes.
This structure applies across England, with variations:

• some areas are unitary authorities
• some have elected mayors
• some still use two-tier systems

The principles explained here apply beyond Solihull — but the exact split of responsibilities can differ.

What this guide covers nextThe next pages look at:

• how decisions are made inside Solihull Council
• what Cabinet does
• what Full Council actually controls
• how scrutiny fits in

Understanding the council structure makes those pages easier to follow.

Does this only apply to Solihull?  This page uses Solihull Council as its example.
The same categories apply across England’s local government system