The
Local Government Act 1985 is an
Act of Parliament in the
United Kingdom. Its main effect was to abolish the six
county councils of the
metropolitan counties that had been set up in 1974 by the
Local Government Act 1972, along with the
Greater London Council that had been established in 1965. In their place many single purpose authorities known collectively as 'joint authorities' were established for fire service, police and passenger transport. An ad hoc education authority was established for Inner London and a planning authority for Greater London. The legislation permitted councils to form 'joint arrangements' for waste disposal and other services that they wished to provide together. Time-limited residuary bodies were created to dispose of the assets of the former authorities.