David Boothroyd writes
No, that was the system of local Government foisted on London by the
Tories in the mid-80s.

No, I included that. At least there were elected Borough Councils then.
There weren't in 1856-89.

Elected Borough Councils who were tightly controlled by the Government
(in particular their budgets); Quangos who were controlled by the
Government; and other 'services' controlled directly by Whitehall.

Then there was the ILEA scandal... bloody Tebbit.

--
Dave