The non-metropolitan district of Halton and its council were created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the whole area of two former districts and parts of another two, all of which were abolished at the same time:[5] Widnes and Hale, north of the River Mersey, had been in Lancashire prior to the reforms.

[8] The district was awarded borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.

Since 2014 the council has been a member of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, which also includes the local authorities of Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral; the five metropolitan district councils which constitute the county of Merseyside.

[12] The combined authority has been led by the directly elected Mayor of the Liverpool City Region since 2017.

[15] Parts of the borough are covered by civil parishes, which form an additional tier of local government for their areas.

[17][18][19] Lower tier non-metropolitan district Unitary authority The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Halton.

[26] Full council meetings are generally held at Runcorn Town Hall on Heath Road.