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

The combined authority provides strategic leadership and co-ordination for certain functions across Greater Manchester, notably regarding transport and town planning, but Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council continues to be responsible for most local government functions.

Some strategic functions in the area are provided by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority; the leader of Tameside Council sits on the combined authority as Tameside's representative.

[25][26] The council's former offices, known as the Tameside Administrative Centre, had been built on the same site in 1981.

[27] The site is immediately behind Ashton Town Hall, one of the buildings inherited from the council's predecessors.

The annual council meeting when new civic mayors are appointed is usually held at Dukinfield Town Hall.