Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Water Services Charges (Billing and Collection) (Scotland) Order 2002 and shall come into force on 1st April 2002.

(2) In this Order–

“the Act” means the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994;

“the 1992 Act” means the Local Government Finance Act 1992(1);

“the 1992 Regulations” means the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) (Scotland) Regulations 1992(2);

“the appropriate water authority”, in relation to a local authority, means the water authority within whose water area (as specified in Schedule 8 to the Act) the area of that local authority is situated;

“dwelling” has the same meaning as in Part II of the 1992 Act;

“the East Authority” means the East of Scotland Water Authority;

“the first added area”, “the second added area” and “the third added area” shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in Schedule 8 to the Act;

“the North Authority” means the North of Scotland Water Authority;

“price index”, in relation to a month, means the retail price index published by the Government Statistical Service for that month;

“relevant year” means the financial year 2002-03, 2003-2004 or 2004-05;

“sewerage charges” means charges payable under a charges scheme in respect of the provision of sewerage services to a dwelling in a relevant year;

“water authority” means the East Authority, the North Authority or the West Authority, and includes any such body acting as sewerage authority;

“water charges” means charges payable under a charges scheme in respect of the provision of water supply services to a dwelling in a relevant year (other than charges in respect of a supply of water taken by meter);

“water services charges” means sewerage charges and water charges;

“the West Authority” means the West of Scotland Water Authority.