Section 20: Partner authorities
90.Section 20 lists public bodies and persons who will be “partner authorities” in relation to responsible local authorities for the purposes of Part 2. Some of these bodies are also listed as partner authorities for the purposes of Chapter 1 of Part 5 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.
91.Subsection (3)(a) covers Jobcentre Plus by referring to the Secretary of State in relation to his functions under section 2 of the Employment and Training Act 1973. Subsection (3)(b) covers the Probation Services by referring to the Secretary of State in relation to his functions under sections 2 and 3 of the Offender Management Act 2007.
92.Subsection (4) provides that the Secretary of State’s functions under Part 2 of this Act as a partner authority, in relation to subsection (3)(b), are functions which can be performed through arrangements for the provision of probation services under section 3 of the Offender Management Act 2007. This means that they are included in the functions that are to be discharged under arrangements made under section 3 of that Act.
93.Subsection (6) provides that the Secretary of State may, by order, amend the list of partner authorities by adding any person with functions of a public nature, removing any person, or by adding or removing references to the Secretary of State’s functions under subsection (3). The order is subject to the negative resolution procedure. Subsection (7) provides that before making such an order, the Secretary of State must consult such representatives of local government and such other persons as he thinks fit.