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For local government purposes, Wales is divided into 22 unitary authorities, which are responsible for the provision of all local government services, including education, social work, environment and roads services. Below these in some areas there are community councils, which cover specific areas within a council area. The unitary authority areas are known as the principal areas of Wales, and are variously styled: Nine areas are styled as counties, three as cities, and ten as county boroughs, although all authorities have equal powers. They came into being on 1 April 1996 by virtue of the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 (1994 c. 19).

The Queen appoints a Lord Lieutenant to represent her in the eight Preserved counties of Wales — which are combinations of council areas. However other subdivisions occur when dividing Wales into separate regions in the provisions of fire, and police services. For example there is a South Wales Police force, rather than the Glamorgan Police Force.

Contents 1 Cities 2 Principal areas of Wales 3 Name changes 4 Communities 5 Police and fire services 5.1 Police forces 5.2 Fire and rescue services 6 History 7 See also 8 References

Cities

There are five cities in total in Wales - in addition to the three unitary authorities with City status, the communities of Bangor and St David's also have the status. City status in the United Kingdom is determined by Letters patent.

• Bangor
• Cardiff
• Newport
• St David's
• Swansea

(St. Asaph historically had city status. The 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica refers to it as a city, but it is no longer considered as such. Applications for restoration of city status in the 2000 and 2002 competitions were unsuccessful).

Principal areas of Wales

Areas are styled as counties, unless marked * (for cities) or † (for county boroughs). Welsh language forms are given in parentheses, where they differ from the English.

Merthyr Tydfil (Merthyr Tudful) † Caerphilly (Caerffili) † Blaenau Gwent † Torfaen (Tor-faen) † Monmouthshire (Sir Fynwy) Newport (Casnewydd) * Cardiff (Caerdydd) * Vale of Glamorgan (Bro Morgannwg) † Bridgend (Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr) † Rhondda Cynon Taff (Rhondda Cynon Tâf) † Neath Port Talbot (Castell-nedd Porth Talbot) † Swansea (Abertawe) * Carmarthenshire (Sir Gaerfyrddin) Ceredigion Powys Wrexham (Wrecsam) † Flintshire (Sir y Fflint) Denbighshire (Sir Ddinbych) Conwy † Gwynedd Isle of Anglesey (Ynys Môn) Pembrokeshire (Sir Benfro)

v • d • e Local government in Wales Principal areas established in 1996 Anglesey • Blaenau Gwent • Bridgend • Caerphilly • Cardiff • Carmarthenshire • Ceredigion • Conwy • Denbighshire • Flintshire • Gwynedd • Merthyr Tydfil • Monmouthshire • Neath Port Talbot • Newport • Pembrokeshire • Powys • Rhondda Cynon Taff • Swansea • Torfaen • Vale of Glamorgan • Wrexham Counties and districts 1974 - 1996 Clwyd Alyn and Deeside • Colwyn • Delyn • Glyndŵr • Rhuddlan • Wrexham Maelor Dyfed Carmarthen • Ceredigion • Dinefwr • Llanelli • Preseli Pembrokeshire • South Pembrokeshire Gwent Blaenau Gwent • Islwyn • Monmouth • Newport • Torfaen Gwynedd Aberconwy • Arfon • Dwyfor • Meirionnydd • Ynys Môn - Isle of Anglesey Mid Glamorgan Cynon Valley • Merthyr Tydfil • Ogwr • Rhondda • Rhymney Valley • Taff-Ely Powys Brecknock • Montgomeryshire • Radnorshire South Glamorgan Cardiff • Vale of Glamorgan West Glamorgan Lliw Valley • Neath • Port Talbot • Swansea Counties established before 1889 Anglesey • Brecknockshire • Caernarfonshire • Cardiganshire • Carmarthenshire • Denbighshire • Flintshire • Glamorganshire • Merionethshire • Monmouthshire • Montgomeryshire • Pembrokeshire • Radnorshire

Name changes

The current names of certain principal areas are different from those specified in the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994. The following changes took place, all with effect from 2 April 1996 : ¹

• Conwy from Aberconwy and Colwyn
• Isle of Anglesey from Anglesey
• Gwynedd from Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire
• Ceredigion from Cardiganshire
• Neath Port Talbot from Neath and Port Talbot

Communities

The lowest level of subdivision below principal areas are Communities. Each Welsh principal area is subdivided into communities. They have elected community councils (CCs) which perform a number of roles, such as providing local facilities, and representing their communities to larger local government bodies. Community councils are the equivalent of English parish councils. A community council may call itself a 'town council' if it wishes to do so. Two Welsh communities Bangor and St David's have city status and are therefore called 'City Councils'. Communities which are too small to have a council have a community meeting instead, an example of direct democracy.

See also List of communities in Wales

Police and fire services

Police forces

There are four police forces in Wales. These are:

North Wales Police (Heddlu Gogledd Cymru) Dyfed-Powys Police (Heddlu Dyfed Powys) South Wales Police (Heddlu De Cymru) Gwent Police (Heddlu Gwent)

Fire and rescue services

There are three fire and rescue services in Wales. The present Welsh fire services date from 1996. Each covers a number of principal areas. These are:

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service (Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub Gogledd Cymru) Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub Canolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru) South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru)

History

Main article: History of local government in Wales

See also

• List of Welsh principal areas by population
• List of Welsh principal areas by area
• List of Welsh principal areas by percentage Welsh language
• Welsh Assembly Government
• Geography of Wales
• List of communities in Wales
• LocalGov.co.uk - News updates on UK local government, including reorganisation

References

1. ^ The Residuary Body for Wales (Levies) Regulations 1996

• CIA World Factbook 2002

v • d • e Administrative divisions of the United Kingdom Local government in the United Kingdom • Subdivisions of the United Kingdom History • Lieutenancy area/County (list) • Unitary authority • Community council/Civil parish England History • Subdivisions: Regions • Counties (ceremonial) • Counties (metropolitan/non-metropolitan) • Districts (list) • Civil parishes (list) Scotland History • Subdivisions: Regions • Council areas • Community councils (list) Wales History • Subdivisions: Counties • Principal areas • Community councils (list) Northern Ireland History • Subdivisions: Counties • Districts

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• This page was last modified on 9 November 2008, at 08:00.

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