Unitary Authority, all-purpose, autonomous council that provides all local government services within its boundaries. Common in the United Kingdom, the authority provides a single-tier (unitary) administration, amalgamating the former two-tier arrangement of separate county and district councils. The responsibilities of a unitary authority can include education, social services, libraries, trading standards, youth and community centres, highways, traffic, fire, refuse disposal, and strategic planning. Three types of unitary councils currently exist in the United Kingdom: merged unitary (based on previous county boundaries); unitary district (based on prior district boundaries, but with new functions added); and hybrid unitary (a council for the main city or cities in a county). Unitary authorities were established in the United Kingdom following a review of local government in 1993-1994.