Local Government Act 1972

228 Inspection of documents. E+W

(1) The minutes of proceedings of a [F1 parish or community council] shall be open to the inspection of any local government elector for the area of the [F1 the council] and any such local government elector may make a copy of or extract from the minutes.

(2) A local government elector for the area of a local authority may inspect and make a copy of or extract from an order for the payment of money made by the local authority.

(3) The accounts of a local authority and of any proper officer of a local authority shall be open to the inspection of any member of the authority, and any such member may make a copy of or extract from the accounts.

F2 (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) Subject to any provisions to the contrary in any other enactment or instrument, a person interested in any document deposited as mentioned in section 225 above may, at all reasonable hours, inspect and make copies thereof or extracts therefrom on payment to the person having custody thereof of the sum of 10p for every such inspection, and of the further sum of 10p for every hour during which such inspection continues after the first hour.

(6) A document directed by this section to be open to inspection shall be so open at all reasonable hours and, except where otherwise expressly provided, without payment.

(7) If a person having the custody of any such document—

(a) obstructs any person entitled to inspect the document or to make a copy thereof or extract therefrom in inspecting the document or making a copy or extract,

(b) refuses to give copies or extracts to any person entitled to obtain copies or extracts,

he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F3 level 1 on the standard scale].

[F4 (7A) This section shall apply to the minutes of proceedings and the accounts of a joint authority [F5 or a police authority established under section 3 of the Police Act 1964]. . . as if that authority were a local authority and as if, F6 . . ., references to a local government elector for the area of the authority were a reference to a local government elector for any local government area in the area for which the authority is established.]

(8) This section shall apply to the minutes of proceedings and to the accounts of a parish meeting as if that meeting were a [F7 parish council].

[F8 (9) In relation to the Broads Authority, the references in this section to a local government elector for the area of the authority shall be construed as references to a local government elector for the area of any of the local authorities mentioned in section 1(3)(a) of the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act 1988.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words substituted by Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 (c. 43, SIF 81:1, 2), s. 3, Sch. 2 para. 6(2)(a)

F2 S. 228(4) repealed by Local Government Finance Act 1982 (c. 32, SIF 81:1), s. 38(5), Sch. 6 Pt. IV

F3 Words substituted by virtue of Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), ss. 38, 46

F4 S. 228(7A) inserted by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), s. 84, Sch. 14 para. 24

F5 Words in s. 228(7A) inserted (1.10.1994 for specified purposes otherwise 1.4.1995) by 1994 c. 29, s. 43, Sch. 4 para. 13; S.I. 1994/2025, art. 6; S.I. 1994/3262, arts. 4, 5, Sch.

F6 Words repealed by Education Reform Act 1988 (c. 40, SIF 41:1), ss. 231(7), 235(6), 237(2), Sch. 13 Pt. I

F7 Words substituted by Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 (c. 43, SIF 81:1, 2), s. 3, Sch. 2 para. 6(2)(b)

F8 S. 228(9) added by Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act 1988 (c. 4, SIF 81:1), ss. 21, 23(2), 27(2), Sch. 6 para. 10(8)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 228 modified (07.08.1991) by S.I.1991/1773 art.8(2), Sch. 2

S. 228: certain functions transferred (07.08.1991) by S.I.1991/1773, art. 8, Sch. 2

S. 228 applied (with modifications) (28.6.1995) by 1995 c. iii, s. 26, Sch. 1

S. 228 extended (19.9.1995) by 1995 c. 25, ss. 63(5), 125(2), Sch. 7 para. 17(2)(b) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117, Sch. 8 para. 7)

S. 228 applied (temp. from 4.5.1995 to 31.3.1996) by S.I. 1995/1042, art. 4(1)

C2 S. 228(2)(3) amended by S.I. 1989/1815, art. 2, Sch. 1 para. 5(c)

C3 S. 228(7A) amended by S.I. 1985/1884, art. 10, Sch. 3 para. 1(n)

C4 S. 228(7A) modified by S.I. 1987/2110, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 para. 3(n)