Some shire counties, for example Cornwall, now have no sub-divisions so are a single non-metropolitan district.

Typically, a district will consist of a market town and its more rural hinterland.

Borough status is granted by royal charter and, in many cases, continues a style enjoyed by a predecessor authority, which can date back centuries.

Initially, there were 296 non-metropolitan districts in the two-tier structure, but reforms in the 1990s and 2009 reduced their number to 192.

A further 55 non-metropolitan districts are now unitary authorities, which combine the functions of county and borough/district councils.

[4] The network's purpose is to "act as an informed and representative advocate for districts to government and other national bodies, based on their unique position to deliver for local people."