County councils and unitary authorities are responsible for most local services, which typically include:
- education
- fire and rescue
- cultural services, including the provision of libraries
- highways
- social services
- trading standards
- transport
- waste disposal.
The following services are also managed by unitary authorities and, where local government is shared with another tier of authority, by district and city councils:
- local planning
- planning applications
- housing
- environmental health, including noise nuisance
- minor roads
- leisure and recreation services
- waste collection
- licensing
- electoral registration
- benefits.
At the next level down are town and parish councils, which spend an allocation of council tax on services for their community, such as:
- bus shelters and public benches
- notice boards
- cemetery facilities
- footpaths and car parks
- maintenance of recreational areas.
