Local Government Commission for England (1958 - 1967)

The Local Government Commission for England was established by the Local Government Act 1958 to review the organisation of local government, and make "such proposals as are hereinafter authorised for effecting changes appearing to the Commissions desirable in the interests of effective and convenient local government". The Act also provided for a Local Government Commission for Wales.

The initial members of the commission were appointed by warrant dated 31 October 1958. The chairman was Sir Henry Drummond Hancock and the deputy chairman was Michael Edward Rowe. The other members of the commission were Ruth Burton Buckley, Bernard Donald Storey and Ernest William Woodhead. They were joined on 14 January 1959 by Professor Ely Devons and on 15 July 1959 by Robert Hughes Parry. On the death of Woodhead, Leslie Robert Missen was made a member. The last member to be appointed was Professor Bryan Keith-Lucas on 24 June 1965.

The Commission carried out reviews of two types of areas: five Special Review Areas, covering the major conurbations outside London, and seven General Review Areas, covering regions comprising a number of administrative counties and county boroughs. The Commission's remit did not extend to the Metropolitan Area which was under review by the Royal Commission on Local Government in Greater London.

On 10 February 1966, the Prime Minister, Harold Wilson announced in the Commons the appointment of a Royal Commission to review the structure of local government in England more radically.

The reviews were formally brought to an end in 1967 by the Local Government (Termination of Reviews) Act 1967, which dissolved the Commission. Most outstanding recommendations were abandoned by the government.

† An enquiry into the Commission recommendations was ordered to be held, commencing on 18 October 1961.

‡ An enquiry into the Commission recommendations was ordered to be held, commencing on 23 March 1964.

The North-Western GRA consisted of the administrative counties of Cheshire, Lancashire, Cumberland and Westmorland (except those areas in the Merseyside and South East Lancashire SRAs), and the county boroughs of Barrow-in-Furness, Blackburn, Blackpool, Burnley, Carlisle, Chester, Preston, St. Helens, Southport, Warrington and Wigan.

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