Local Government Act 1972

74 Change of name of county, district or London borough. E+W

(1) Subject to subsection (5) below, the council of a county [F1 , county borough], district or London borough may, by a resolution passed by not less than two-thirds of the members voting thereon at a meeting of the council specially convened for the purpose with notice of the object, change the name of the county [F1 , county borough], district or borough.

(2) Where the name of a district which has been granted the status of a city, borough or royal borough or the name of a London borough is changed in pursuance of this section, the charter or other grant or incorporation order shall have effect as if the new name were substituted for the old.

[F2 (2A) Where a Welsh principal area which has, by charter or other grant or incorporation order, been granted the status of a county borough, city or royal borough subsequently changes the name of the council in pursuance of this section, the charter or other grant or incorporation order shall have effect as if the new name were substituted for the old.]

(3) Notice of any change of name made under this section F3 . . .—

(a) shall be sent by the council concerned to the Secretary of State, to the Director General of the Ordnance Survey and to the Registrar General; and

(b) shall be published in such manner as the Secretary of State may direct.

(4) A change of name made in pursuance of this section F4 . . . shall not affect any rights or obligations of any county [F5 , county borough], district or London borough or of any council, authority or person, or render defective any legal proceedings; and any legal proceedings may be commenced or continued as if there had been no change of name.

(5) The name of a county or district shall not be changed under this section before 1st April 1978 unless the change is made with the consent of the Secretary of State.

[F6 (6) The name of a Welsh principal area shall not be changed under this section before 1st October 1996 except with the consent of the Secretary of State.

(7) If the name of a Welsh principal area is changed under this section, and there are generally accepted alternative English and Welsh forms of that name, or alternative English and Welsh names, both forms of the new name or (as the case may be) both names shall be published.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 74(1) inserted (3.4.1995) by 1994 c. 19, s. 66(5), Sch. 15 para. 20(1) (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1995/852, art. 9(1)(2), Sch. 5

F2 S. 74(2A) inserted (3.4.1995) by 1994 c. 19, s. 66(5), Sch. 15 para. 20(2) (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1995/852, art. 9(1)(2), Sch. 5

F3 Words in s. 74(3) repealed (3.4.1995) by 1994 c. 19, s. 66(5)(8), Sch. 15 para. 20(3), Sch. 18 (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1995/852, art. 9(1)(2), Sch. 5

F4 Words in s. 74(4) repealed (3.4.1995) by 1994 c. 19, s. 66(5)(8), Sch. 15 para. 20(3), Sch. 18 (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1995/852, art. 9(1)(2), Sch. 5

F5 Words in s. 74(4) inserted (3.4.1995) by 1994 c. 19, s. 66(5), Sch. 15 para. 20(4) (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1995/852, art. 3(1), Sch. 1

F6 S. 74(6)(7) added (3.4.1995) by 1994 c. 19, s. 66(5), Sch. 15 para. 20(5) (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1995/852, art. 9(1)(2), Sch. 5

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 74: functions of local authority not to be responsibility of an executive of the authority (E.) (16.11.2000) by virtue of S.I. 2000/2853, reg. 2(1), Sch. 1

C2 S. 74(1) applied (with modifications)(1.8.1995) by S.I. 1995/1748, reg. 7