Local Government Finance Act 1992

Part II Non-Domestic Rating Accounts

The accounts

6 (1) In accordance with this Part of this Schedule the Secretary of State shall keep, in respect of the financial year 1993-94 and each subsequent financial year, an account (to be called a non-domestic rating account).

(2) The Secretary of State—

(a) shall keep each account in such form as the Treasury may direct; and

(b) shall at such time as the Treasury may direct send copies of each account to the Comptroller and Auditor General.

(3) The Comptroller and Auditor General shall examine, certify and report on any account of which copies are sent to him under sub-paragraph (2) above and shall lay copies of the account and of his report before each House of Parliament.

Credits and debits

7 (1) For each financial year there shall be credited (as items of account) to the account kept for the year any sums received by the Secretary of State in the year under paragraph 11 below.

(2) Any amounts of non-domestic rate income distributed by the Secretary of State in a financial year under—

(a) paragraph 3 above;

(b) paragraph 11(9) and (10) below; or

(c) regulations made under paragraph 12(5) below,

shall be debited (as items of account) to the account kept for the year

8 (1) As soon as is reasonably practicable after the end of each financial year the Secretary of State shall calculate the following—

(a) the aggregate of the items of account credited to the account kept for the year; and

(b) the aggregate of the items of account debited to the account kept for the year.

(2) If the aggregate mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(a) above exceeds that mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(b) above, a sum equal to the excess shall be—

(a) debited (as an item of account) to the account kept for the year; and

(b) credited (as an item of account) to the account kept for the next financial year.

(3) If the aggregate mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(b) above exceeds that mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(a) above, a sum equal to the excess shall be—

(a) credited (as an item of account) to the account kept for the year; and

(b) debited (as an item of account) to the account kept for the next financial year.

Distributable amount

9 (1) Before a financial year begins the Secretary of State shall estimate—

(a) the aggregate of the items of account which will be credited to the account kept for that year; and

(b) the aggregate of the items of account which will be debited to the account kept for that year under paragraphs 7(2)(b) and (c) and 8(3)(b) above.

(2) In making any estimate under sub-paragraph (1) above the Secretary of State may make such assumptions as he thinks fit.

(3) If the aggregate estimated under sub-paragraph (1)(a) above exceeds the aggregate estimated under sub-paragraph (1)(b) above the Secretary of State shall calculate the amount equal to the difference.

(4) In any local government finance order in respect of that year the Secretary of State shall specify the amount arrived at under this paragraph (the distributable amount for the year).