Local Government Act 1972

83 Declaration of acceptance of office. E+W

(1) The person elected to any of the following offices, that is to say, the office of chairman, vice-chairman, [F1 presiding member, deputy presiding member,] F2 . . . councillor [F3 or elected mayor] of the council of a county [F4 , county borough], district or London borough F5 . . . shall not, unless he has made a declaration of acceptance of office in a form prescribed by [F6 an order made by the Secretary of State], and the declaration has within two months from the day of the election been delivered to the proper officer of the council, act in the office except for the purpose of taking such a declaration.

(2) If such a declaration is not made and delivered to the proper officer within the appointed time, the office of the person elected shall at the expiration of that time become vacant.

(3) The declaration shall be made before either—

(a) two members of the council to which the declarant is elected; or

[F7 (aa) an elected mayor of the council to which the declarant is elected; or]

(b) the proper officer of the council; or

(c) a justice of the peace or magistrate in the United Kingdom, the Channel Isles or the Isle of Man; or

(d) a commissioner appointed to administer oaths in the [F8 Senior Courts].

F9 (3A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) A person elected to the office of chairman of a parish or community council or parish or community councillor shall—

(a) in the case of the chairman, at the meeting at which he is elected;

(b) in the case of a councillor, before or at the first meeting of the parish or community council after his election; or

(c) in either case if the council at that meeting so permit, before or at a later meeting fixed by the council;

make in the presence of a member of the council or of the proper officer of the council and deliver to the council a declaration of acceptance of office in a form prescribed by [F6 an order made by the Secretary of State], and if he fails to do so his office shall thereupon become vacant.

(5) Any person before whom a declaration is authorised to be made under this section may take the declaration.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 83(1) inserted (30.9.2013) by Local Government (Democracy) (Wales) Act 2013 (anaw 4), ss. 51(5), 75(2)(d)

F2 Words repealed by S.I. 1977/1710, art. 3(c)

F3 Words in s. 83(1) inserted (E.) (26.10.2000) and (W.) (28.7.2001) by 2000 c. 22, ss. 46, 108(4), Sch. 3 para. 9(1)(2); S.I. 2000/2849, art. 2(e)

F4 Words in s. 83(1) inserted (3.4.1995) by 1994 c. 19, s. 66(5), Sch. 15 para. 23 (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1995/852, art. 9(1), Sch. 5

F5 Words repealed by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), ss. 1, 102, Sch. 17

F6 Words substituted by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 81:1, 2), s. 30(2)

F7 S. 83(3)(aa) inserted (E.) (26.10.2000) and (W.) (28.7.2001) by 2000 c. 22, ss. 46, 108(4), Sch. 3 para. 9(1)(3); S.I. 2000/2849, art. 2(e)

F8 Words in s. 83(3)(d) substituted (1.10.2009) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 59, 148, Sch. 11 para. 4(1)(2)(3); S.I. 2009/1604, art. 2

F9 S. 83(3A) (inserted by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), s. 84, Sch. 14 Pt. I para. 5) repealed by Education Reform Act 1988 (c. 40, SIF 41:1), ss. 231(7), 235(6), 237(2), Sch. 13 Pt. I

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Pt. 5 applied (23.5.2019) by The Buckinghamshire (Structural Changes) Order 2019 (S.I. 2019/957), arts. 1, 15(1)

C2 Pt. 5 applied (14.2.2020) by The Northamptonshire (Structural Changes) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/156), arts. 1, 17(1)

C3 Pt. 5 applied (18.3.2022) by The Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/331), arts. 1(1), 18(1)

C4 S. 83 modified (5.3.2008) by The Cheshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/634), art. 9(10)

C5 S. 83 amended by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 81:1), s. 31(7)

C6 S. 83 excluded by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), ss. 84(2)(b), 86(9)

S. 83 excluded (27.11.2001temp. until 27.7.2002) by S.I. 2001/3576, art. 3(1)(b)

C7 S. 83(1)-(3) modified (14.2.2020) by The Northamptonshire (Structural Changes) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/156), arts. 1, 20(15)(16)