How local government works
Bins, libraries, roads and social care — most of the services you notice daily are actually run by your local council, not Westminster.
Part of your national curriculum
- Democracy and government: Understand the functions and uses of local government and how decisions are made in the local area
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Understand the functions and uses of local government and how decisions are made in the local area
Key learning points
- • What councils do
- • Councillors and committees
- • How decisions are made
This lesson at a glance
- 25 minutes
- 17 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 17
Visual introductionPicture this
How local government works
Bins, libraries, roads and social care — most of the services you notice daily are actually run by your local council, not Westminster.
In a nutshell
Understand the functions and uses of local government and how decisions are made in the local area
Learning cycle
Part 2 of 17
Learning cycle 1 of 2
Part 1 · What councils do
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 17
Learn
What councils do
Local councils provide services including waste collection, libraries, social care, planning permission and local roads. They are funded partly by council tax and partly by grants from central government.
Reset break
Part 4 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Explore the idea
Part 5 of 17
Learn
Councillors and committees
Residents elect local councillors, usually every four years, to represent their ward. Councillors sit on committees that scrutinise spending and make decisions such as approving a new housing development or a school budget.
Quick check
Part 6 of 17
Quick check
Part 7 of 17
Reset break
Part 8 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Learning cycle
Part 9 of 17
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Part 2 · How decisions are made
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 10 of 17
Learn
How decisions are made
Big decisions often start with a council meeting or a public consultation, where residents can comment on proposals. Councils must publish their decisions and reasoning, so citizens can hold them to account or challenge unfair outcomes.
Quick check
Part 11 of 17
Reset break
Part 12 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 3 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 13 of 17
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 14 of 17
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
Local ____ provide services including waste collection, libraries, social care, planning permission and local roads.
They are funded partly by council tax and partly by grants from central ____.
Residents elect local ____, usually every four years, to represent their ward.
Challenge round
Part 15 of 17
Game · Recall cards
Which service is typically run by a local council?
Card 1 of 3
Mastery quiz
Part 16 of 17
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: How local government works
3 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. Which service is typically run by a local council?
2. How are councillors chosen?
3. What can residents do before a council makes a big decision?
Lesson round-up
Part 17 of 17
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
Quiz score
Not sat
Games
Not played
Points this lesson
0
Best run
0 in a row
Luna: 0 out of 3 on the practice checks. Only if you feel up to it — one more?
Ask LunaPart 1 of 17 · Watch & discover
How this is going
- Not looked at yet
Understand the functions and uses of local government and how decisions are made in the local area