There are also elections for 17 unitary authorities.

Thirty unitary authorities are electing all of their councillors and a further 17 are electing in thirds.

The Whangarei and Far North Councils want to become unitary authorities - dissolving the Regional… Read more Audio

Elections for 27 English county councils and seven unitary authorities as well as Anglesey in Wales have been held.

There are 27 county councils, 7 unitary authorities and two Mayoral elections in England.

The Whangarei and Far North Councils want to become unitary authorities - dissolving the Regional Council and splitting its considerable assets.

The report not only recommended sending in the commissioners, but also said two new unitary authorities should be set up in Northamptonshire.

The Minister of Local Government Rodney Hide has poured cold water on the hopes of two Northland councils pushing to become unitary authorities.

Polls in 27 English county councils and seven unitary authorities are a crucial mid-term test for the Lib Dem and Tory coalition partners.

Elections will be held for 27 county councils and seven unitary authorities in England on Thursday 2 May.

These include unitary authorities such as Hartlepool and Portsmouth, London boroughs among them Hillingdon and Southwark, and metropolitan districts like Liverpool and Wolverhampton.

Metropolitan district councils are more similar to unitary authorities in terms of the services they look after, but typically sit in built-up city areas.

The mayors of Whangarei and the Far North want to dissolve the Northland Regional Council; split its duties and assets, and form two unitary authorities.

Labour saw sweeping losses across the 27 shire councils and seven unitary authorities, losing a net of 268 council seats.

In May there will be local contests in all 32 London boroughs, 34 metropolitan boroughs, 68 district-borough councils and 17 unitary authorities.

Unitary authorities are usually made up of smaller towns and the less urbanised areas surrounding them.