Under the Local Government Act 1972, Shaw & Crompton’s Urban District status was abolished, and the area has, since 1 April 1974, formed part of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham.
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, has a Chairman and Vice Chairman and is consulted on planning applications relating to the parish of Shaw and Crompton, Oldham.
Shaw and Crompton Parish 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 has a Town Crier, 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.