Under the Local Government Act 1972, the town's urban district status was abolished, and the area has, since 1 April 1974, formed part of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, a local government district of the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester. A civil parish of Crompton was formed in April 1987 and renamed to "Shaw and Crompton" in July 1987. The civil parish has its own parish council, giving it some limited local government autonomy from that of the wider Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, and including the status as a statutory consultee on local planning applications. The council comprises 14 locally elected members, Councillor Ken Berry is the parish chairman 2020-2021 and is consulted in planning applications that affect the area through the Shaw and Crompton area Committee of Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council. Shaw and Crompton (Community Forum)Community Council, a separate body, meets at least four times per year and is designed to allow local people to put forward their priorities for the area in which they live, suggest improvements and have their say on how services are run on a local basis. Shaw and Crompton does not have a mayor, but does have a Chair of Council who performs ceremonial duties, charitable and chairing duties of the council. The Parish Council also has a town crier who jointly with the Chair performs ceremonial duties in and around the parish area and is a purely ceremonial role. Shaw and Crompton is one of only a few parishes of England that still observes the ancient custom of Beating the bounds. Originally an annual event, it now takes place every seven years.