text: It came into effect on 1 April 1986 , with some powers being devolved to the metropolitan boroughs themselves and London boroughs and others to joint authorities ( such as for fire or police purposes ) consisting of members of each of the metropolitan district councils within each county .
simplified: It came into effect on April 1 , 1986 . The metropolitan boroughs and London boroughs got some of the powers of the former institutions , but others went to central government .