[5] In 1974 Derby was reconstituted as a non-metropolitan district under the Local Government Act 1972; it kept the same boundaries but became a lower-tier district council with Derbyshire County Council providing county-level services to the town for the first time.

This therefore had the effect of restoring the city council to the powers it had held when Derby was a county borough prior to 1974.

The combined authority is chaired by the directly elected Mayor of the East Midlands and oversees the delivery of certain strategic functions across the area.

[11] Derby City Council provides all local government services in the area.

Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms took effect has been as follows:[13][14][15] Non-metropolitan district Unitary authority The role of Mayor of Derby is largely ceremonial.

Construction began in 1938 but was interrupted by the Second World War, with the building eventually being completed in 1949.