Local Elections 2010

How is a local government formed?

When the votes have been counted, the number of seats on the council (varying from nine to 45) are divided up between the parties. The leader of the biggest party is then asked to form a coalition to run the town or city.

Once a coalition has been put together, the parties involved appoint aldermen or council executives who will make up the governing board – which is similar to the national government's cabinet of ministers.

Meetings of the politically elected local councillors are public, meetings of the appointed executive board are private. Both are chaired by the mayor, who is appointed by the queen. Together, the councillors and the board operate as a system of checks and balances on each other.

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