Elected county councils were created in 1889 under the Local Government Act 1888, taking over many administrative functions which had previously been performed by unelected magistrates at the quarter sessions.

[7][8] At the same time, Warwickshire was divided into five non-metropolitan districts which form a lower tier of local government.

[9] In 2024 the Council became the centre of a national controversy following comments made by three Conservative Councillors during a Children’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee discussing spending on Special Educational NeedS (SEND).

[12] The Conservative Group received criticism for their decision not to discipline the Councillors by removing the whip and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was asked to intervene by the Warwick and Leamington MP Matt Western during Prime Minister Question Time.

[17] As a result of the comments a joint Labour and Liberal Democrat motion was submitted for all elected members to receive training on SEND.

District-level services are provided by the five district councils: Much of the county is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.

[28] The county council is based at the Shire Hall in Market Place, Warwick, a complex of buildings built over many years.