Local Government Act 1972

Legal proceedings E+W

222 Power of local authorities to prosecute or defend legal proceedings. E+W

(1) Where a local authority consider it expedient for the promotion or protection of the interests of the inhabitants of their area—

(a) they may prosecute or defend or appear in any legal proceedings and, in the case of civil proceedings, may institute them in their own name, and

(b) they may, in their own name, make representations in the interests of the inhabitants at any public inquiry held by or on behalf of any Minister or public body under any enactment.

(2) In this section “local authority” includes the Common Council.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 222 amended by S.I. 1990/1765, art. 4(3)

C2 S. 222 modified (07.08.1991) by S.I. 1991/1773, art. 8(2), Sch.2.

S. 222: certain functions transferred (07.08.1991) by S.I. 1991/1773, art. 8, Sch. 2.

C3 S. 222 modified (10.01.1992) by S.I. 1991/2913, art. 8(2), Sch. 2.

S. 222: certain functions transferred (10.01.1992) by S.I. 1991/2913, art. 8, Sch.2.

S. 222 extended (19.9.1995) by 1995 c. 25, ss. 65(7), 125(2), Sch. 8 para. 3(1)(g) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117, Sch. 8 para. 7)

223 Appearance of local authorities in legal proceedings. E+W

(1) Any member or officer of a local authority who is authorised by that authority to prosecute or defend on their behalf, or to appear on their behalf in, proceedings before a magistrates’ court shall be entitled to prosecute or defend or to appear in any such proceedings, and, notwithstanding anything contained in [F1 the M1 Solicitors Act 1974], to conduct any such proceedings although he is not a solicitor holding a current practising certificate.

(2) In this section “local authority” includes the Common Council [F2 , a joint authority [F3 , a police authority established under section 3 of the Police Act 1964] . . . F4 ] and [F5 the National Rivers Authority].

Textual Amendments

F1 Words substituted by Solicitors Act 1974 (c. 47), s. 90(2), Sch. 3 para. 9

F2 Words inserted by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), s. 84, Sch. 14 para. 21

F3 Words in s. 223(2) inserted (1.10.1994 for specified purposes otherwise 1.4.1995) by 1994 c. 29, s. 43, Sch. 4 para. 12; S.I. 1994/2025, art. 6; S.I. 1994/3262, arts. 4, 5, Sch.

F4 Words repealed by Education Reform Act 1988 (c. 40, SIF 41:1), ss. 231(7), 235(6), 237(2), Sch. 13 Pt. I

F5 Words substituted by virtue of Water Act 1989 (c. 15, SIF 130), ss. 58(7), 101(1), 141(6), 160(1)(2)(4), 163, 189(4)–(10), 190, 193(1), Sch. 25 para. 43(1), Sch. 26 paras. 3(1)(2), 17, 40(4), 57(6), 58

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C4 S. 223 amended by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), s. 57(7), Sch. 13 para. 12(f)

C5 S. 223 modified (07.08.1991) by S.I. 1991/1773, art. 8(2), Sch. 2.

S. 223: certain functions transferred (07.08.1991) by S.I. 1991/1773, art. 8, Sch.2.

C6 S. 223 modified (10.01.1992) by S.I. 1991/2913, art. 8(2), Sch. 2.

S. 223: certain functions transferred (10.01.1992) by S.I. 1991/2913, art. 8, Sch. 2.

S. 223 extended (5.7.1994) by 1994 c. 19, ss. 39(2), 66(2)(b), Sch. 13 para. 19(f) (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2))

S. 223 amended (3.1.1995) by 1994 c. 40, ss. 76, 82(2), Sch. 16 para. 3

S. 223 modified (1.4.1995) by S.I. 1995/401, art. 18, Sch. para. 1(d)

S. 223 extended (19.9.1995) by 1995 c. 25, ss. 65(7), 125(2), Sch. 8 para. 3(1)(g) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117, Sch. 8 para. 7)

C7 S. 223(2) amended by S.I. 1985/1884, art. 10, Sch. 3 para. 1(m)

C8 S. 223(2) modified by S.I. 1987/2110, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 para. 3(m)

Marginal Citations

M1 1974 c. 47.