[3][4] The county of Avon was abolished in 1996 and four unitary authorities established to govern the area.

The way the 1996 change was implemented was to rename the Woodspring district as North West Somerset, and to create a non-metropolitan county of North West Somerset covering the district, but with no separate county council.

The whole area is also covered by civil parishes, which form a second tier of local government.

Following the 2023 election a coalition of Labour, the Liberal Democrats, Greens, local party the Portishead Independents and some of the independent councillors formed to run the council, led by Liberal Democrat councillor Mike Bell.

[21] The council is based at Weston-super-Mare Town Hall on Walliscote Grove Road.