Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007
2007 c. 28
An Act to make provision with respect to local government and the functions and procedures of local authorities and certain other authorities; to make provision with respect to persons with functions of inspection and audit in relation to local government; to establish the Valuation Tribunal for England; to make provision in connection with local involvement networks; to abolish Patients' Forums and the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health; to make provision with respect to local consultation in connection with health services; and for connected purposes.
[30th October 2007]
Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—
1 “Principal authority” and “single tier of local government”
(1) For the purposes of this Chapter, each of the following is a “principal authority”—
(a) a county council in England;
(b) a district council in England.
(2) For the purposes of this Chapter there is “a single tier of local government” for an area if—
(a) there is a county council and no district councils for that area; or
(b) there is a district council and no county council for that area.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(b) there is a county council “for” an area which is a district if there is a county council which has in relation to that area the functions of a county council.
2 Invitations and directions for proposals for single tier of local government
(1) The Secretary of State may invite or direct any principal authority to make one of the following proposals—
(a) a Type A proposal;
(b) a Type B proposal;
(c) a Type C proposal;
(d) a combined proposal.
(2) A Type A proposal is a proposal that there should be a single tier of local government for the area which is the county concerned.
(3) A Type B proposal is a proposal that there should be a single tier of local government for an area which—
(a) is currently a district, or two or more districts, in the county concerned; and
(b) is specified in the proposal.
(4) A Type C proposal is a proposal that there should be a single tier of local government for an area specified in the proposal which currently consists of—
(a) the county concerned or one or more districts in the county concerned; and
(b) one or more relevant adjoining areas.
(5) A combined proposal is a proposal that consists of—
(a) two or more Type B proposals,
(b) two or more Type C proposals, or
(c) one or more Type B proposals and one or more Type C proposals,
but a proposal is not a combined proposal if it includes any Type B or C proposals that are alternatives.
(6) In this section “the county concerned” means—
(a) in relation to a principal authority which is the council for a county, that county;
(b) in relation to a principal authority which is the council for a district, the county in which the district is.
(7) In this section a “relevant adjoining area” means an area which adjoins the county concerned and is currently a county in England, a district in England, or two or more such counties or districts.
(8) An invitation or direction may either—
(a) be such that the authority may choose whether to make a Type A, Type B, Type C or combined proposal; or
(b) specify which one of those kinds of proposal is invited (or, in the case of a direction, required).
(9) Subsection (1) is subject to section 3(1).
2A Proposals for merger of single tiers of local government
(1) The Secretary of State may invite or direct a relevant principal authority to make a proposal that there should be one or more single tiers of local government for an area which currently consists of—
(a) the area of that authority, and
(b) one or more other eligible areas.
(2) A principal authority is a “relevant principal authority” for the purposes of subsection (1) if it is the district or county council for an area for which there is currently a single tier of local government.
(3) An “eligible area” is an area for which there is a single tier of local government.
(4) An invitation or direction may—
(a) be such that the authority may choose which eligible areas (other than the area of that authority) should form the proposed area for the new single tier of local government;
(b) specify which eligible areas (other than the area of that authority) should form the proposed area for the new single tier of local government.
3 Invitations, directions and proposals: supplementary
(1) A direction under section 2 or 2A may be given on or after the day on which this subsection comes into force.
(1A) A direction under section 2 or 2A may only be given where the Secretary of State believes that giving the direction would be in the interests of effective and convenient local government.
(2) A direction under section 2 or 2A may specify a date by which a proposal must be made.
(3) An invitation under section 2 or 2A may specify a date by which a proposal may be made.
(4) A proposal made by virtue of section 2 may not specify an area as one for which there should be a single tier of local government unless the whole or any part of that area is currently a two-tier area (as defined by section 23(2)).
(5) In responding to an invitation under section 2 or 2A, or complying with a direction under either of those sections, an authority must have regard to any guidance from the Secretary of State as to—
(a) what a proposal should seek to achieve;
(b) matters that should be taken into account in formulating a proposal.
(6) Where invitations or directions under section 2 or 2A are given to more than one authority, any authority that has received an invitation or direction may respond to the invitation, or comply with the direction, either by—
(a) making its own proposal in accordance with the invitation or direction; or
(b) making a proposal, in accordance with the invitation or direction, jointly with any of the other authorities.
(7) An invitation or direction under section 2 or 2A may be varied or revoked.
(8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4 Request for Local Government Boundary Commission's advice
(1) This section applies where the Secretary of State receives a proposal in response to an invitation or direction under section 2 or 2A.
(2) The Secretary of State may request the Local Government Boundary Commission to advise, no later than a date specified in the request, on any matter that—
(a) relates to the proposal; and
(b) is specified in the request.
(3) The Secretary of State may at any time substitute a later date for the date specified in a request under subsection (2) (or for any date previously substituted under this subsection).
(1) This section applies where the Local Government Boundary Commission receive a request for advice under section 4.
(2) The Local Government Boundary Commission may provide the advice requested.
(3) Where they provide that advice, the Local Government Boundary Commission may also do any of the following that they think appropriate—
(a) recommend that the Secretary of State implements the proposal without modification;
(b) recommend that he does not implement it;
(c) make an alternative proposal to him.
(4) In subsection (3)(a) “the proposal” means
(a) in relation to a proposal in response to an invitation or direction under section 2, the Type A, Type B, Type C or combined proposal to which the request for advice related, or
(b) in relation to a proposal in response to an invitation or direction under section 2A, the proposal to which the request for advice related.
(5) In subsection (3)(c) “an alternative proposal” means—
(a) in relation to a proposal in response to an invitation or direction under section 2—
(i) a proposal that there should be a single tier of local government for an area that is, or includes, the whole or part of the county concerned, and is specified in the alternative proposal, or
(ii) a proposal consisting of two or more proposals that are within paragraph (i) (and are not alternatives to one another);
(b) in relation to a proposal in response to an invitation or direction under section 2A, a proposal that there should be one or more single tiers of local government for an area that—
(i) includes the relevant area and one or more other areas for which there is a single tier of local government, and
(ii) is specified in the alternative proposal.
(6) In this section “the county concerned” means—
(a) the county that, under section 2(6), is the county concerned in relation to the authority which made the proposal referred to in subsection (4) (a) above; or
(b) where that proposal was made by more than one authority, any county that (under section 2(6)) is the county concerned in relation to any of the authorities which made that proposal.
(6A) In this section the “relevant area” means—
(a) the area of the relevant principal authority which made the proposal referred to in subsection (4)(b), or
(b) where that proposal was made by more than one relevant principal authority, the area of any of those authorities.
(7) The area specified in an alternative proposal under this section may not extend into any area that is currently outside all local government areas.
6 Local Government Boundary Commission's procedure
(1) A local authority must if requested by the Local Government Boundary Commission to do so provide the Commission, by such date as the Commission may specify, with any information that the Commission may reasonably require in connection with any of their functions under section 5.
(2) In making a recommendation or alternative proposal under section 5 the Local Government Boundary Commission must have regard to any guidance from the Secretary of State about the exercise of the Commission's functions under that section.
(3) Any recommendation or alternative proposal under section 5 must be made no later than the relevant date.
(4) Before making an alternative proposal under section 5(3)(c) the Local Government Boundary Commission must—
(a) publish a draft of the proposal; and
(b) take such steps as they consider sufficient to secure that persons who may be interested are informed of—
(i) the draft proposal; and
(ii) the period within which representations about it may be made to the Commission.
(5) The Local Government Boundary Commission—
(a) must take into account any representations made to them within that period; and
(b) if they make any proposal to the Secretary of State, must inform any person who made such representations—
(i) of the proposal made; and
(ii) that representations about the proposal may be made to the Secretary of State until the end of the relevant period.
(6) In subsection (5)(b) “the relevant period” means four weeks beginning with the relevant date.
(7) In this section and section 7 “the relevant date” means the date specified in the request under section 4(2) (or, if a later date is substituted under section 4(3), the date substituted (or last substituted) under that provision).
(1) Where the Secretary of State has received a proposal in response to an invitation or direction under section 2 or 2A, he may—
(a) by order implement the proposal, with or without modification;
(b) if he has received an alternative proposal from the Local Government Boundary Commission under section 5, by order implement that alternative proposal with or without modification; or
(c) decide to take no action.
(2) But where the Secretary of State has made a request under section 4 in relation to the proposal received in response to the invitation or direction, he may not make an order or decision under this section before the end of six weeks beginning with the relevant date (as defined by section 6(7)).
(3) The Secretary of State may not in any case make an order under subsection (1)(a) implementing a proposal unless he has consulted the following about the proposal—
(a) every authority affected by the proposal (except the authority or authorities which made it); and
(b) such other persons as he considers appropriate.
(4) For the purposes of this section an authority is “affected by” a proposal in response to an invitation or direction under section 2 if it is a principal authority for an area which is, or any part of which is, in an area that the proposal suggests should have a single tier of local government.
(4A) For the purposes of this section an authority is “affected by” a proposal in response to an invitation or direction under section 2A if—
(a) it is the district or county council for an area for which there is currently a single tier of local government, and
(b) that area would fall within the proposed new single tier of local government.
(5) Subsection (3) does not apply if the proposal was made jointly by every authority affected by it, and in that case the Secretary of State may before making an order under subsection (1)(a) (or deciding not to) consult such other persons as he considers appropriate.
(6) In any case where he has received an alternative proposal from the Local Government Boundary Commission under section 5, the Secretary of State may request the Commission to provide him with information or advice on any matter relating to the proposal.
(7) Where they receive such a request the Local Government Boundary Commission may provide the information or advice requested.
8 Review by Local Government Boundary Commission of local government areas
(1) The Local Government Boundary Commission may, either on their own initiative or at the request of the Secretary of State or a local authority, conduct a review of one or more local government areas.
(2) Where they have conducted a review under this section the Local Government Boundary Commission may (subject to subsection (4)) recommend to the Secretary of State such boundary change as in consequence of the review seems to them desirable.
(3) For the purposes of this section “boundary change” means any of the following or any combination of the following—
(a) the alteration of a local government area boundary;
(b) the abolition of a local government area;
(c) the constitution of a new local government area.
(4) None of the following may be recommended under this section—
(a) a change consisting of the alteration of the boundary of a single-tier area and consequent abolition of an area that is currently two-tier;
(b) a change consisting of the alteration of the boundary of a two-tier area and consequent abolition of an area that is currently single-tier;
(c) a change consisting of the constitution of a new local government area and consequent abolition of an existing local government area, where the new local government area would include—
(i) the whole or part of any area that is currently single-tier; and
(ii) the whole or part of any area that is currently two-tier;
(d) a change consisting of the alteration of a local government area, or constitution of a new local government area, where the altered or new area would extend into an area that is currently outside all local government areas;
(e) a change whose effect would be that England (excluding the Isles of Scilly, the City of London, the Inner Temple and the Middle Temple) is no longer divided into areas each of which is—
(i) a county divided into districts, or comprising one district; or
(ii) a London borough.
(5) Where the Local Government Boundary Commission have conducted a review under this section and consider that no boundary change is desirable, they may recommend to the Secretary of State that no boundary change should be made.
(6) In considering whether (and, if so, what) boundary change is desirable, the Local Government Boundary Commission must have regard to—
(a) the need to secure effective and convenient local government; and
(b) the need to reflect the identities and interests of local communities.
(6A) Where under subsection (2) the Local Government Boundary Commission recommend that a boundary change should be made in relation to any local government area, the Commission must recommend to the Secretary of State whether, in consequence, a change should be made to—
(a) the electoral arrangements of the area of a local authority;
(b) the electoral arrangements of the area of a parish council.
(6B) In subsection (6A)(a) “electoral arrangements”, in relation to the area of a local authority means—
(a) the total number of members of the local authority (“councillors”);
(b) the number and boundaries of electoral areas for the purposes of the election of councillors;
(c) the number of councillors to be returned by any electoral area in that area; and
(d) the name of any electoral area.
(6C) In subsection (6A)(b) “electoral arrangements”, in relation to the area of a parish council means—
(a) the total number of members of the parish council (“parish councillors”);
(b) arrangements for the division of the parish or (in the case of a common parish council) any of the parishes into wards for the purposes of the election of parish councillors;
(c) the number and boundaries of any wards;
(d) the number of parish councillors to be returned by any ward or, in the case of a common parish council, by each parish; and
(e) the name of any ward.
(6D) Schedule 2 to the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 applies in relation to the making of recommendations under subsection (6A).
(6E) Where under subsection (2) the Local Government Boundary Commission recommend that a boundary change should be made in relation to the area of a London borough council, the Commission must recommend to the Secretary of State whether, in consequence, a change should be made to the area of any constituency for the London Assembly in order to comply with the rules set out in paragraph 7 of Schedule 1 to the Greater London Authority Act 1999.
(7) In exercising a function under this section, a local authority or the Local Government Boundary Commission must have regard to any guidance from the Secretary of State about the exercise of that function.
(8) A local authority must if requested by the Local Government Boundary Commission to do so provide the Commission, by such date as the Commission may specify, with any information that the Commission may reasonably require in connection with any of their functions under this section.
9 Local Government Boundary Commission's review: consultation etc
(1) This section applies where the Boundary Committee conduct a review under section 8.
(2) In conducting the review the Local Government Boundary Commission must consult—
(a) the council of any local government area to which the review relates; and
(b) such other local authorities, parish councils and other persons as appear to them to have an interest.
(3) Before making any recommendation to the Secretary of State the Local Government Boundary Commission must—
(a) publish a draft of the recommendation; and
(b) take such steps as they consider sufficient to secure that persons who may be interested are informed of—
(i) the draft recommendation; and
(ii) the period within which representations about it may be made to the Commission.
(4) The Local Government Boundary Commission—
(a) must take into account any representations made to them within that period; and
(b) if they make any recommendation to the Secretary of State, must inform any person who made such representations—
(i) of the recommendation made; and
(ii) that representations about the recommendation may be made to the Secretary of State until the end of four weeks beginning with the recommendation date.
(5) In this section and section 10 “the recommendation date” means the date the recommendation was sent by the Local Government Boundary Commission to the Secretary of State.
(1) Where the Local Government Boundary Commission make a recommendation to the Secretary of State under section 8(2), the Secretary of State may do any of the following—
(a) by order implement the recommendation, with or without modification;
(b) decide to take no action with respect to the recommendation;
(c) make a request under section 8 for a further review.
(2) Where the Local Government Boundary Commission make a recommendation to the Secretary of State under section 8(5) the Secretary of State may—
(a) make a request under section 8 for a further review; or
(b) decide not to make such a request.
(2A) Subsections (2B) to (2D) apply where the Local Government Boundary Commission make a recommendation to the Secretary of State under section 8(6A) or (6E) in consequence of a recommendation under section 8(2).
(2B) Where under subsection (1)(a) the Secretary of State implements the recommendation under section 8(2) without modification, the Secretary of State must by order implement the recommendation under section 8(6A) or (6E).
(2C) Where pursuant to subsection (1)(a) the Secretary of State proposes to implement the recommendation under section 8(2) with modification, the Secretary of State must request the Local Government Boundary Commission to recommend whether a modification is needed to their recommendation under section 8(6A) or (6E).
(2D) Where under section (1)(a) the Secretary of State implements a recommendation under section 8(2) with modification—
(a) if the Local Government Boundary Commission have recommended under subsection (2C) that a modification is needed to their recommendation under section 8(6A) or (6E), the Secretary of State must by order implement the recommendation under section 8(6A) or (6E) with that modification;
(b) if the Local Government Boundary Commission have recommended under subsection (2C) that no modification is needed to the recommendation under section 8(6A) or (6E), the Secretary of State must by order implement that recommendation.
(3) The Secretary of State may not do as mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of subsection (1) or paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (2) before the end of six weeks beginning with the recommendation date (as defined by section 9(5)).
(4) Before doing as mentioned in any of those paragraphs the Secretary of State may request the Local Government Boundary Commission to provide him with information or advice on any matter relating to the recommendation.
(5) Where they receive such a request the Local Government Boundary Commission may provide the information or advice requested.
11 Implementation orders: provision that may be included
(1) An order under section 7 or 10 may in particular include provision, for the purpose of implementing a proposal or recommendation or in connection with the implementation of a proposal or recommendation, for or with respect to—
(a) any of the matters mentioned in subsection (3);
(b) any of the matters mentioned in subsection (4) (incidental, consequential etc matters).
(2) In subsection (1) “implementing” includes implementing with modifications and “implementation” is to be read accordingly.
(3) The matters referred to in subsection (1)(a) are—
(a) the constitution of a new local government area;
(b) the abolition of any existing local government area;
(c) the boundary of any local government area;
(d) whether a county or district is to be metropolitan or non-metropolitan;
(e) the establishment, as a county council, district council or London borough council, of an authority for any local government area;
(f) the winding up and dissolution of an existing local authority;
(g) the transfer to a county council of the functions, in relation to an area, of district councils;
(h) the transfer to a district council of the functions, in relation to an area, of a county council.
(i) electoral matters within the meaning of section 12.
(4) The matters referred to in subsection (1)(b) are—
(a) the name of any local government area;
(b) the name of any local authority;
(c) the boundary of any parish;
(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(e) the establishment or membership of public bodies in any area affected by the order and the election of members of such bodies;
(ea) where the order makes provision for a single tier of local government for an area that comprises or includes the area of a combined authority or combined county authority, for the abolition of the combined authority or combined county authority;
(f) the abolition or establishment, or the restriction or extension, of the jurisdiction of any public body in or over any part of any area affected by the order;
(g) the boundary of any police area in England.
(5) For the purposes of subsection (3)(e)—
(a) the “establishment” of an authority as a council for a county includes an existing district council's becoming the county council for the county;
(b) the “establishment” of an authority as a council for a district includes an existing county council's becoming the district council for the district.
(6) The power of the Secretary of State under section 7(1)(a) to implement a proposal with modifications includes power to make provision whose effect is that there will be a single tier of local government for an area (“the area concerned”) that—
(a) includes all or part of an area specified in the proposal as one for which there should be a single tier of local government; but
(b) is not an area that could itself have been so specified.
(7) But subsection (6) does not authorise the area concerned to extend into any area that is currently outside all local government areas.
(8) In this section, “combined authority” and “combined county authority” have the same meaning as in section 11A (see subsection (10) of that section).
11A Implementation orders: conversion of combined county authorities
(1) This section applies where the implementation of a proposal in response to an invitation or direction under section 2 or 2A means that the area of a combined county authority—
(a) will no longer meet condition A in section 9(2) of the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act 2023 (area of combined county authority), but
(b) will meet condition A in section 103(2) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (area of combined authority).
(2) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision that the relevant body corporate is to continue in existence but—
(a) is no longer a combined county authority, and
(b) is instead a combined authority.
(3) Accordingly, where regulations make provision under subsection (2), the combined authority and the combined county authority are the same person in law.
(4) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision that the relevant office of mayor (if any) is to continue in existence but—
(a) is no longer the office of mayor for the area of the combined county authority, and
(b) is instead the office of mayor for the area of the combined authority.
(5) Accordingly, where regulations make provision under subsection (4)—
(a) the office of mayor for the area of the combined authority and the office of mayor for the area of the combined county authority is the same office in law;
(b) the person who holds the relevant office of mayor continues to hold that office.
(6) The power to make regulations under this section includes power to make incidental, consequential, transitional or supplementary provision.
(7) The power to make provision under subsection (6) includes (but is not limited to) provision—
(a) for the combined authority to be treated for some or all purposes as if it is a combined authority established under section 103 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009;
(b) for the office of mayor for the area of the combined county authority to be treated for some or all purposes as if it is provided for under section 107A of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009.
(8) Provision made under this section may—
(a) modify, disapply or apply (with or without modifications) any enactment;
(b) repeal or revoke any enactment with or without savings.
(9) In this section “enactment” includes—
(a) this Act (other than a provision of this Part);
(b) an enactment comprised in subordinate legislation within the meaning of the Interpretation Act 1978 (whenever passed or made),
but it does not include an Act other than this Act.
(10) In this section—
“combined authority” means a combined authority established under section 103 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009;
“combined county authority” means a combined county authority established under section 9(1) of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023;
“modify” includes amend;
“relevant body corporate” means the body corporate which the combined county authority was established as;
“relevant office of mayor” means the office of mayor for the area of the combined county authority.
12 Provision relating to membership etc of authorities
(1) In section 11(3) “electoral matters” means any of the following—
(a) the total number of members of any local authority or parish council (“councillors”);
(b) the number and boundaries of electoral areas for the purposes of the election of councillors;
(c) the number of councillors to be returned by any electoral area;
(d) the name of any electoral area;
(e) the election of councillors for any electoral areas;
(f) the order of retirement of councillors;
(g) the election of a mayor of a local authority;
(h) the election of an executive of a local authority;
(i) the appointment by the Secretary of State of members of an existing local authority to be members of a new local authority for a transitional period;
(j) the appointment for a transitional period of an executive of a new local authority;
(k) the functions of a new local authority, and the discharge of those functions, during a transitional period.
(l) the ordinary year of election for a parish council.
(2) In subsection (1)(i) to (k)—
“a new local authority” means a local authority established by the order;
“a transitional period” means a period before the coming into office of members of the authority elected at the first election after the establishment of the authority.
(3) In subsection (2) “established” and “establishment” are to be read in accordance with section 11(5).
(3A) Where an order makes provision under subsection (1)(k) conferring functions on a new local authority in relation to a combined authority or combined county authority, the order may provide that such functions are no longer functions of an existing local authority.
(4) An order under section 7 or 10 may provide for an electoral division of a non-metropolitan county to return more than one councillor, and in such a case section 6(2)(a) of the Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70) does not apply.
(5) As soon as practicable after the making of an order under section 7 or 10, the Local Government Boundary Commission must consider whether to exercise its power under section 56(2) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (electoral reviews).
(5A) In this section—
“combined authority” means a combined authority established under section 103 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009;
“combined county authority” means a combined county authority established under section 9(1) of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023.
(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(1) The power to make an order under section 7 or 10 includes (as well as power to make any provision authorised by section 11(1)(b)) power to make any other incidental, consequential, transitional or supplementary provision.
(2) Subsection (1) is to be read with section 15.
(3) Any incidental, consequential, transitional or supplementary provision included in an order under section 7 or 10 may relate either to other provisions of the order or to a previous order under section 7 or 10 (and the reference in section 12(2) to “the order” accordingly includes a previous order under section 7 or 10).
(4) The Secretary of State must exercise his powers under section 11(4)(g) in such a way as to ensure that none of the following is divided between two or more police areas—
(a) a county in which there are no district councils;
(b) a district;
(c) a London borough.
(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations of general application make incidental, consequential, transitional or supplementary provision—
(a) for the purposes or in consequence of any orders under section 7 or 10; or
(b) for giving full effect to such orders.
(2) Subsection (1) is to be read with section 15.
(3) Regulations under this section have effect subject to any provision included in an order under section 7 or 10.
15 Incidental etc provision in orders or regulations
(1) In sections 13 and 14 references to incidental, consequential, transitional or supplementary provision include, in particular, provision—
(a) for the transfer of functions, property, rights or liabilities from a local authority or local policing body for any area to another local authority or local policing body whose area consists of or includes the whole or part of that area;
(b) for the transfer of property, rights or liabilities, and of related functions, from an authority which ceases to exist to a residuary body established under section 17;
(c) for legal proceedings commenced by or against any body to be continued by or against a body to whom functions, property, rights or liabilities are transferred;
(d) for the transfer of staff, compensation for loss of office, pensions and other staffing matters;
(e) for treating any body to whom a transfer is made for some or all purposes as the same person in law as the body from whom the transfer is made;
(f) with respect to the management or custody of transferred property (real or personal);
(fa) as to who is to be a police and crime commissioner;
(g) with respect to the functions, areas of jurisdiction and costs and expenses of any public body or of—
(i) any justice of the peace other than a District Judge (Magistrates' Courts);
(ii) any coroner or keeper of the rolls;
(iii) any lord-lieutenant, lieutenant or high sheriff; or
(iv) any other officers (including police officers) within the area of any local authority affected by an order under section 7 or 10;
(h) with respect to the functions of any District Judge (Magistrates' Courts);
(i) with respect to charter trustees;
(j) equivalent to any provision that could be contained in an agreement under section 16 (agreements about incidental matters).
(1A) Provision falling within subsection (1)(fa) includes, in particular—
(a) provision for the police and crime commissioner for a police area affected by an order by virtue of provision made under section 11(4)(g) to become the police and crime commissioner for a police area resulting from the order;
(b) provision for the holding of an election for the police and crime commissioner for any police area resulting from the order.
(2) Any order under section 7 or 10 or regulations under section 14 may for any incidental, consequential, transitional or supplementary purpose—
(a) modify, exclude or apply (with or without modifications) any enactment;
(b) repeal or revoke any enactment with or without savings.
(3) In subsection (2)—
“enactment” includes—
any enactment contained in this Act (other than a provision of this Part) or in an Act passed after this Act;
any instrument made at any time under an enactment (including an enactment contained in this Act or in an Act passed after this Act);
any charter, whenever granted;
“modify” includes amend.
(3A) Without prejudice to subsection (2), an order under section 7 or 10 which includes provision within subsection (1A)(b) may, in particular, require the election in question to be held before the alteration of police areas takes effect.
(1) Any public bodies affected by an order under section 7 or 10 may from time to time make agreements with respect to—
(a) any property, income, rights, liabilities and expenses (so far as affected by the order) of the parties to the agreement;
(b) any financial relations between the parties to the agreement.
(2) Such an agreement may in particular provide—
(a) for the transfer or retention of any property, rights and liabilities, with or without conditions, and for the joint use of any property;
(b) for the making of payments by any party to the agreement in respect of—
(i) property, rights and liabilities so transferred or retained;
(ii) such joint use; or
(iii) the remuneration or compensation payable to any person;
(c) for any such payment to be made by instalments or otherwise;
(d) for interest to be charged on any such instalments.
(3) In default of agreement about any disputed matter, the matter is to be referred to the arbitration of a single arbitrator—
(a) agreed on by the parties; or
(b) in default of agreement, appointed by the Secretary of State.
(4) The arbitrator's award may make any provision that could be contained in an agreement under this section.
(5) In subsection (3) “disputed matter” means any matter that—
(a) could be the subject of provision contained in an agreement under this section; and
(b) is the subject of a dispute between two or more public bodies that is not resolved by or under any order or regulations under this Chapter.
(6) In this section “public body” includes a parish council.
(1) The Secretary of State may by order establish one or more bodies corporate (“residuary bodies”) for the purpose of taking over any property, rights or liabilities, and any related functions, of local authorities which cease to exist by virtue of orders under section 7 or 10.
(2) An order under subsection (1) may—
(a) make provision with respect to the constitution and membership of a residuary body;
(b) make provision with respect to the powers of a residuary body to make levies and to borrow and lend money and the treatment and distribution of capital and other money by such a body;
(c) make provision with respect to the keeping and auditing of accounts of a residuary body;
(d) make provision with respect to directions which may be given by the Secretary of State in relation to the carrying out by a residuary body of any of its functions;
(e) make provision enabling the Secretary of State to require a residuary body to submit to him a scheme for the winding up of the body and the disposal of its property, rights and liabilities and related functions.
(3) The Secretary of State may by order provide—
(a) for the transfer to any other body or bodies (including any body or bodies corporate established under the order for the purpose) of any property, rights or liabilities, and any related functions, of a residuary body; and
(b) for giving effect (with or without modifications) to any scheme submitted to him under a provision made by virtue of subsection (2)(e) and for the dissolution of a residuary body.
(4) An order under this section may include incidental, consequential, transitional or supplementary provision, including in particular provision of a kind mentioned in paragraphs (c) to (f) of section 15(1).
(5) Section 15(2) and (3) (power to apply etc enactments) apply to an order under this section as to an order under section 7.
(1) The Secretary of State may by order establish one or more staff commissions for the purpose of—
(a) considering and keeping under review the arrangements for the recruitment of staff by relevant authorities affected by orders under this Chapter and for the transfer in consequence of any such order of staff employed by such authorities;
(b) considering such staffing problems arising in consequence of such an order, and such other matters relating to staff employed by any such authority, as may be referred to the staff commission by the Secretary of State; and
(c) advising the Secretary of State on the steps necessary to safeguard the interests of such staff.
(2) Such a commission may be established for the whole or any part of England.
(3) The Secretary of State may give directions to a staff commission with respect to their procedure.
(4) The Secretary of State may give directions to any relevant authority affected by an order under this Chapter with respect to—
(a) the provision of any information requested and the implementation of any advice given by a staff commission;
(b) the payment by such an authority of any expenses incurred by a staff commission in doing anything requested by the authority.
(5) Any expenses incurred by a staff commission under this section and not recovered from a relevant authority shall be paid by the Secretary of State out of money provided by Parliament.
(6) The Secretary of State may by order provide for the winding up of any staff commission established under this section.
(7) A direction under this section may be varied or revoked by a subsequent direction.
(8) In this section “relevant authority” means—
(a) a local authority; or
(b) a residuary body established under section 17.
19 Certain county councils to be billing authorities
(1) Where an order under this Chapter transfers the functions of district councils in relation to any area to a council for a county consisting of that area, the county council—
(a) shall, for any financial year beginning at the same time as or after that transfer, be a billing authority for the purposes of Part 1 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (c. 14) in relation to the area;
(b) shall not, for any such year, be a major precepting authority for those purposes.
(2) This section does not limit any power to make provision by order under this Chapter or any power to make incidental, consequential, transitional or supplementary provision in connection with the provisions of any such order.
(3) In this section “financial year” means 12 months beginning with 1 April.
(1) Where—
(a) an order under any provision of this Chapter has been made by the Secretary of State, and
(b) the Secretary of State is satisfied that there is a mistake in the order which cannot be rectified by a subsequent order made under that provision by virtue of section 14 of the Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30) (power to amend),
the Secretary of State may rectify the mistake by order under this section.
(2) For the purposes of this section, a “mistake” in an order includes a provision contained in or omitted from the order in reliance on inaccurate or incomplete information supplied by any public body.
(3) In subsection (2) “public body” includes a parish council.
(1) In this section a “pre-commencement invitation” means an invitation given by the Secretary of State before the commencement of this Chapter which, after that commencement, could have been given under the power in section 2.
(2) If before the commencement of this Chapter—
(a) a pre-commencement invitation was given,
(b) guidance as to what a proposal should seek to achieve, or as to matters that should be taken into account in formulating a proposal, was given by the Secretary of State in connection with such an invitation,
(c) a proposal was made in response to such an invitation, or
(d) consultation was carried out by the Secretary of State in relation to such a proposal,
it is immaterial that the invitation or guidance was given, the proposal made, or the consultation carried out, before rather than after the commencement of this Chapter.
(3) Accordingly (and without prejudice to the generality of subsection (2))—
(a) any reference in this Chapter to an invitation under section 2 includes a pre-commencement invitation;
(b) any reference in this Chapter to a proposal made by virtue of section 2 includes a proposal (whenever made) made in response to a pre-commencement invitation;
(c) any reference in this Chapter to the Secretary of State's receiving a proposal in response to an invitation under section 2 includes his receiving before the commencement of this Chapter a proposal made in response to a pre-commencement invitation.
(1) In this Chapter—
...
“local authority” means a county council in England, a district council in England or a London borough council;
“local government area” means a county in England, a district in England or a London borough;
“the Local Government Boundary Commission” means the Local Government Boundary Commission for England;
“principal authority” has the meaning given by section 1;
“public body” includes—
a local authority;
a police authority;
a residuary body established under section 17;
a joint board, or joint committee, on which a local authority is represented;
a levying body within the meaning of section 74(1) of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (c. 41);
an economic prosperity board established under section 88 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009;
a combined authority established under section 103 of that Act;
a combined county authority established under section 9(1) of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023.
“single-tier” has the meaning given by subsection (2);
“staff” includes officers and employees;
“two-tier” has the meaning given by subsection (2);
“Type A”, “Type B”, “Type C” and “combined”, in relation to a proposal, have the meanings given by section 2.
(2) For the purposes of this Chapter an area is—
(a) “single-tier” if there is a single tier of local government for it (within the meaning of section 1) or it is a London borough; and
(b) “two-tier” if it is—
(i) a district for which there is a district council and in relation to which a county council has the functions of a county council; or
(ii) a county for which there is a county council and in which there are districts all of which have district councils.
(3) Any reference in this Chapter to a proposal “in response to” an invitation or direction under section 2 is to a Type A, Type B, Type C or combined proposal which—
(a) is in response to such an invitation or direction; and
(b) is in accordance with the invitation or direction and section 3(4).
(4) Any reference in this Chapter, however framed, to a body affected by an order includes a body—
(a) whose area or functions are affected by the order;
(b) which is to cease to exist in pursuance of the order; or
(c) which is established by or in consequence of the order.
24 Authorities dissolved by orders: control of disposals, contracts and reserves
(1) The Secretary of State may direct that, with effect from a date specified in the direction, a relevant authority may not without the written consent of a person or persons so specified—
(a) dispose of any land if the consideration for the disposal exceeds £100,000;
(b) enter into any capital contract—
(i) under which the consideration payable by the relevant authority exceeds £1,000,000; or
(ii) which includes a term allowing the consideration payable by the relevant authority to be varied;
(c) enter into any non-capital contract under which the consideration payable by the relevant authority exceeds £100,000, where—
(i) the period of the contract extends beyond a date specified in the direction; or
(ii) under the terms of the contract, that period may be extended beyond that date; or
(d) include an amount of financial reserves in a calculation under section 31A(3) or 42A(3) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (c. 14).
(2) In this Chapter “relevant authority” means a local authority—
(a) which by virtue of an order under section 7 or 10 is to be dissolved; and
(b) which is specified, or of a description specified, in the direction.
(3) In this section—
“capital contract” means a contract as regards which the consideration payable by the relevant authority would be capital expenditure for the purposes of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of the Local Government Act 2003 (c. 26) (capital finance);
“non-capital contract” means a contract which is not a capital contract.
(4) A person specified in the direction as a person whose consent is required may be the Secretary of State or such authority or other person as he thinks appropriate; and the direction may specify different persons—
(a) in relation to different matters for which consent is required;
(b) in relation to different relevant authorities or descriptions of relevant authority.
(1) A direction under section 24—
(a) may provide that the consent of the person or persons specified in the direction is not required for the inclusion, in a calculation under section 31A(3) or 42A(3) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, of financial reserves of a description specified in the direction;
(b) may, in relation to any authority or description of authority, provide that that consent is not required for the inclusion in such a calculation of an amount of financial reserves not exceeding an amount specified in or determined under the direction.
(2) If a direction contains provision by virtue of subsection (1), the reference in section 24(1)(d) to an amount of financial reserves is to be read as a reference to an amount of financial reserves other than an amount permitted by the direction.
(1) In this section “direction” means a direction under section 24.
(2) A consent for the purposes of a direction may be given—
(a) in respect of a particular disposal or contract, or in respect of disposals or contracts of any description;
(b) unconditionally or subject to conditions.
(3) The following enactments have effect subject to any direction—
(a) section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70) (power to dispose of land);
(b) any other enactment relating to the disposal of land by local authorities.
(4) The consent required by a direction is in addition to any consent required by the enactments mentioned in subsection (3)(a) and (b).
(5) Where the consideration or any of the consideration under a contract is not in money, the limits specified in a direction by virtue of section 24(1)(a) to (c) apply to the value of the consideration.
(6) Where—
(a) a question arises in relation to a direction as to the value of any consideration, and
(b) the relevant authority concerned and the person or persons specified under section 24(1) fail to reach agreement,
the value is to be determined by the Secretary of State.
(7) A direction may be varied or revoked by a subsequent direction.
27 Consideration to be taken into account for purposes of direction
(1) In determining whether the limit specified in a direction by virtue of section 24(1)(a) is exceeded in the case of a disposal of land by a relevant authority, the consideration with respect to any other disposal of land made after 31 March 2025 by the relevant authority is to be taken into account.
(2) In determining whether a limit specified in a direction by virtue of section 24(1)(b) or (c) is exceeded in the case of a contract entered into by a relevant authority (“the contract in question”), the consideration payable by the relevant authority under any other relevant contract shall be taken into account.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2) a “relevant contract” means a contract which is either or both—
(a) a contract entered into after 31 March 2025 by the relevant authority and the person with whom the contract in question is entered into;
(b) a contract entered into after that date by the relevant authority which relates to the same or a similar description of matter as that to which the contract in question relates.
(1) A disposal made in contravention of a direction under section 24 is void.
(2) A contract entered into by an authority (“the old authority”) in contravention of a direction under section 24 is not enforceable against a successor.
(3) In subsection (2) a “successor” means a local authority (other than the old authority)—
(a) which is established by an order under section 7 or 10; and
(b) whose area consists of or includes the whole or part of the area of the old authority.
(4) A contract which apart from this subsection would be a certified contract for the purposes of the Local Government (Contracts) Act 1997 (c. 65) is not a certified contract for those purposes if it is entered into in contravention of a direction under section 24.
(5) If an authority includes financial reserves in a calculation under section 31A(3) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (c. 14) in contravention of a direction under section 24, the authority is to be treated for the purposes of section 30(8) of that Act as not having made the calculations required by Chapter 3 of Part 1 of that Act.
(6) If an authority includes financial reserves in a calculation under section 42A(3) of that Act in contravention of a direction under section 24, the authority is to be treated for the purposes of section 40(7) of that Act as not having made the calculations required by Chapter 4 of Part 1 of that Act.
(1) The Secretary of State may by order—
(a) substitute another sum for any sum for the time being specified in section 24(1);
(b) substitute another date for the date for the time being specified in section 27(1) and (3).
(2) An order under this section may include transitional or saving provision.
(1) In this Chapter—
“local authority” means a county council in England, a district council in England or a London borough council;
“relevant authority” has the meaning given by section 24(2).
(2) References in this Chapter to disposing of land include references to—
(a) granting or disposing of any interest in land;
(b) entering into a contract to dispose of land or grant or dispose of any such interest;
(c) granting an option to acquire any land or any such interest.
For the purposes of this Chapter—
(a) a council is “subject to a scheme for whole-council elections” if all of its councillors are to be elected in each year in which it holds ordinary elections of councillors;
(b) a council is “subject to a scheme for elections by halves” if one-half (or as nearly as may be) of its councillors are to be elected in each year in which it holds ordinary elections of councillors;
(c) a council is “subject to a scheme for elections by thirds” if one-third (or as nearly as may be) of its councillors are to be elected in each year in which it holds ordinary elections of councillors.
31A Minimum period between resolutions to change electoral schemes
If a council passes a resolution under section 32, 37 or 39 (“the earlier resolution”) it may not pass another resolution under any of those sections before the end of five years beginning with the day on which the earlier resolution is passed.
(1) A district council in England that is subject to a scheme for elections by halves or by thirds may resolve that it is to be subject instead to the scheme for whole-council elections under section 34.
(2) A resolution under this section is referred to in this Chapter as a “resolution for whole-council elections”.
33 Resolution for whole-council elections: requirements
(1) A council must comply with this section in passing a resolution for whole-council elections.
(2) The council must not pass the resolution unless it has taken reasonable steps to consult such persons as it thinks appropriate on the proposed change.
(3) The resolution must be passed—
(a) at a meeting which is specially convened for the purpose of deciding the resolution with notice of the object, and
(b) by a majority of at least two thirds of the members voting on it.
(3A) The resolution must specify the year for the first ordinary elections of the council at which all councillors are to be elected.
(3B) In the case of a district council for a district in a county for which there is a county council, the year specified under subsection (3A) may not be a county-council-elections year; and here “county-council-elections year” means 2013 and every fourth year afterwards.
(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(5) In subsection (3) the reference to the members of the council includes, in a case where the council are operating a mayor and cabinet executive, the elected mayor of the council.
(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(1) On passing a resolution for whole-council elections, a council becomes subject to the following electoral scheme.
(2) Ordinary elections of the councillors of the council are to be held in—
(a) the year specified under section 33(3A) in the resolution, and
(b) every fourth year afterwards.
(3) All councillors are to be elected in each year in which ordinary elections are held.
(4) On the fourth day after ordinary elections are held—
(a) the councillors elected in those elections are to come into office, and
(b) the sitting councillors are to retire.
(4A) Ordinary elections of councillors of the council under the previous electoral scheme are to be held in accordance with that scheme in any year that—
(a) is earlier than the year specified under section 33(3A) in the resolution for whole-council elections, and
(b) is a year in which, under the previous electoral scheme, ordinary elections of councillors of the council are due to be held.
(4B) In subsection (4A) “the previous electoral scheme” means the scheme for the ordinary elections of councillors of the council that applied to it immediately before it passed the resolution for whole-council elections.
(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(1) A council must comply with this section as soon as practicable after passing a resolution for whole-council elections.
(2) The council must produce an explanatory document.
(3) The council must make the explanatory document—
(a) available for public inspection at the council's principal office at all reasonable times, and
(b) available to the public by such other means as the council thinks appropriate.
(4) The council must publicise these matters—
(a) that the council has become subject to the scheme for whole-council elections under section 34;
(b) when elections will first take place in accordance with the scheme;
(c) how the explanatory document is available in accordance with subsection (3);
(d) the address of the council's principal office.
(5) It is for the council to decide how those matters are to be publicised.
(6) An explanatory document is a document which sets out details of the new electoral scheme as it applies to the council.
36 Notice to Local Government Boundary Commission for England
(1) A council must comply with this section as soon as practicable after passing a resolution for whole-council elections.
(2) The council must give the Local Government Boundary Commission notice that it has passed the resolution.
(3) In this Chapter, “Local Government Boundary Commission” means the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.