In the original Act, the council could petition the Governor of Northern Ireland for a royal charter.

By the time the Act came into effect, however, the office of governor had been abolished, and petitions were addressed to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Where a district was designated a city or borough, the chairman and vice-chairman became the mayor and deputy-mayor.

Also abolished were any joint boards established under the Public Health (Ireland) Act 1878 or Water Supplies and Sewerage Act (Northern Ireland) 1945 and the Belfast City and District Water Commissioners.

Their functions were transferred to the Londonderry Development Commission, established to provide new housing and infrastructure in and around Derry.