Local Government Act 2003

2 (1) In Schedule 8 to the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (c. 41) (non-domestic rates: pooling), Part 3 (distribution of non-domestic rates to be dealt with in local government finance reports) is amended as follows. E+W

(2) In paragraph 8(2) (meaning of “local government finance report” in Part 3 of the Schedule), after “section 78A” there is inserted “ or 84G ”.

(3) In paragraph 9(4) (distributable amount to be stated in local government finance report), at the end there is inserted “ , subject to paragraph 9A below. ”

(4) After paragraph 9 there is inserted—

“Years where two local government finance reports prepared for Wales E+W

9A (1) Where the National Assembly for Wales publishes two local government finance reports for a particular financial year—

(a) paragraph 9(4) above does not apply in relation to Wales as respects that year, and

(b) the Assembly shall decide whether—

(i) distribution among all receiving authorities of the amount arrived at under paragraph 9 above for the year is to be dealt with in just one of those reports (the chosen report), or

(ii) each of those reports is to deal with the distribution of so much of that amount as is for the receiving authorities to which that report relates.

(2) If the Assembly decides as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(b)(i) above—

(a) the Assembly shall specify that amount (the distributable amount for the year) in the chosen report, and

(b) the chosen report is the local government finance report for that year to which the requirement under paragraph 10(1) below applies.

(3) If the Assembly decides as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(b)(ii) above—

(a) paragraphs 10 and 11 below do not apply in relation to Wales as respects the year (but see paragraphs 11A to 11C below),

(b) the power under paragraph 13 below may (in particular) be exercised by making a single amending report relating to both of the local government finance reports for the year, and

(c) paragraph 14 below does not apply in relation to any report amending either of those reports (but see paragraph 14A below).”

(5) In paragraph 11(1)(a) (paragraph applies where distributable amount specified in accordance with paragraph 9), for “paragraph 9” there is substituted “ paragraphs 9 and 9A(2) ”.

(6) After paragraph 11 there is inserted—

“11A (1) Where the National Assembly for Wales proposes to publish two local government finance reports for a particular financial year and as respects that year decides as mentioned in paragraph 9A(1)(b)(ii) above, the Assembly shall in each of those reports—

(a) specify the amount for the year arrived at under paragraph 9 above,

(b) specify how much of that amount is for the receiving authorities to which the report relates, and

(c) specify the basis on which the Assembly proposes to distribute among those authorities the amount specified under paragraph (b) above.

(2) Before making such a report as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) above, the Assembly shall notify the general nature of the basis of distribution proposed to be specified in the report to such representatives of local government as appear to the Assembly to be appropriate.

11B (1) This paragraph applies where the National Assembly for Wales—

(a) publishes a local government finance report that is one of two being published by it for a particular financial year, and

(b) as respects that year decides as mentioned in paragraph 9A(1)(b)(ii) above.

(2) The amount specified under paragraph 11A(1)(b) above in the report shall be distributed among and paid to the receiving authorities to which the report relates in accordance with this paragraph and paragraph 12 below.

(3) As soon as is reasonably practicable after the report is published, the Assembly shall calculate in relation to each of those authorities what sum falls to be paid to the authority as its share of the amount specified under paragraph 11A(1)(b) above.

(4) The calculation under sub-paragraph (3) above shall be in accordance with the basis of distribution specified in the report.

(5) The Assembly may carry out the sub-paragraph (3) calculation again at any time before the end of the financial year immediately following the one to which the report relates.

(6) The power under sub-paragraph (5) above may only be exercised once and ceases to be exercisable if the Assembly publishes under paragraph 13 below a report amending the report.

(7) As soon as is reasonably practicable after making a calculation under sub-paragraph (3) or (5) above, the Assembly shall inform each receiving authority to which the report relates of the outcome, so far as relating to it.

11C (1) The National Assembly for Wales may set a deadline for the receipt of information to be taken into account by it when making a calculation under paragraph 11B(3) or (5) above.

(2) Different deadlines may be set under sub-paragraph (1) above in relation to different kinds of information.

(3) A deadline under sub-paragraph (1) above shall only have effect if the Assembly informs each receiving authority concerned of the deadline and of the information to which it relates.

(4) Notification under sub-paragraph (3) above may be given at any time before the making of the calculation to which the deadline relates, including a time before the distributable amount for the year is calculated under paragraph 9 above.

(5) When making a calculation in relation to which a deadline under sub-paragraph (1) above has effect, the Assembly shall leave information to which the deadline applies out of account if it is received after the passing of the deadline.”

(7) In paragraph 12(1) (duty to pay amounts calculated under paragraph 11(3)), after “11(3)” there is inserted “ or 11B(3) ”.

(8) In paragraph 12, in each of sub-paragraphs (3) and (5) (cases where recalculation shows different amount to be due)—

(a) after “11(4)” there is inserted “ or 11B(5) ”, and

(b) after “11(3)” there is inserted “ or 11B(3) ”.

(9) After paragraph 14 there is inserted—

“14A (1) This paragraph applies where—

(a) a report is made under paragraph 13 above amending a report (“the original report”) that is one of two local government finance reports that the National Assembly for Wales publishes for a particular financial year, and

(b) as respects that year the Assembly decides as mentioned in paragraph 9A(1)(b)(ii) above.

(2) As soon as is reasonably practicable after the amending report is published by the Assembly, the Assembly shall calculate in relation to each of the authorities to which the original report relates what sum falls to be paid to the authority as its share of the amount specified under paragraph 11A(1)(b) above in the original report.

(3) The calculation under sub-paragraph (2) above shall be in accordance with the amended basis of distribution.

(4) The Assembly may carry out the sub-paragraph (2) calculation again at any time before—

(a) the end of the financial year immediately following the one to which the original report relates, or

(b) if later, the end of the period of 3 months beginning with the day on which the Assembly publishes the amending report.

(5) The power under sub-paragraph (4) above may only be exercised once.

(6) Paragraphs 11B(7) and 11C above apply in relation to calculations made under sub-paragraphs (2) and (4) above as they apply in relation to calculations made under paragraph 11B(3) and (5) above.”

(10) In paragraph 15(1) (paragraph applies where calculation made under paragraph 14(1) or (2)), after “14(1) or (2)” there is inserted “ or 14A(2) or (4) ”.

(11) In paragraph 15(6) (meaning of “the relevant previous calculation”)—

(a) after “14(1)” (in each place) there is inserted “ or 14A(2) ”,

(b) after “11(3)” there is inserted “ or 11B(3) ”,

(c) after “11(4)” there is inserted “ or 11B(5) ”, and

(d) after “14(2)” (in each place) there is inserted “ or 14A(4) ”.

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 2 para. 2 in force W. at 27.11.2003 for the purpose of and in relation to financial years beginning on or after 1.4.2004 by S.I. 2003/3034, art. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. I