Local Government or ‘councils’ (London boroughs, county councils, city councils, and district councils) provide lots of different services to everyone, including children and young people, who live in their areas.

The LGO 

Sometimes people are unhappy with the services they receive or things go wrong. When councils can’t resolve a complaint people contact the LGO who looks at both sides of the argument and reaches a fair decision.

These are just some of the things Councils do:

• street cleaning, rubbish collection, recycling and removal of abandoned vehicles
• education – schools, after school clubs, play schemes and youth centres
• plan crime prevention strategies and fund community warden schemes
• provide social services for some children and young people, adults who need help and the elderly
• maintain and repair roads and street lighting, cycle paths, footpaths and bridleways
• upkeep local parks and play areas
• leisure centres and swimming pools
• provide affordable housing
• decide what new buildings are built and what they can be used for
• help people who can’t afford their rent or council tax
• licence local taxis and pubs and clubs
• provide education maintenance allowances for those in further education and calculate the amount those in higher education can borrow
• environmental health services to deal with fly tipping and other problems

For a full list of what services councils provide and who to contact for more information click here to find your local council's website. Some councils have members of staff whose job it is to consult children and young people about the services they provide to find out what they want in their area, or to deal with complaints from younger people.