The metropolitan borough of Sefton and its council were created in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the whole area of five former districts and parts of another, all of which were abolished at the same time: The area was transferred from Lancashire to become one of the five districts in the new metropolitan county of Merseyside.

[6] The shadow authority had decided against petitioning for borough status, which allows the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.

Some strategic functions in the area are provided by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority; the leader of Sefton Council sits on the combined authority as Sefton's representative.

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

Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:[15][16] The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Sefton.

[21] The council's main offices are at Magdalen House, 30 Trinity Road, Bootle.

[22] Public-facing 'one stop shops' are at Stanley Road in Bootle and Lord Street in Southport.