Comparing German and English Municipal Councils

While both German and English town councils represent the tier of local government closest to the community, they operate under fundamentally different constitutional, financial, and structural realities.  In short, German municipalities, often smaller than Truro, derive their powers from the German Constitution not from elected central government.  Their autonomy cannot be over-ruled by the centre. This allows them control over planning, water supply and sewerage, energy and more. This paper focuses on planning, water supply and sewerage only.