Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70)

Part XI E+W General Provisions as to Local Authorities

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 [F1 and the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority] .

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 222(2) inserted (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 328(8), Sch. 29 Pt. I para. 20 (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/1094, art. 4(a)(h)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

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

C2 S. 222 modified (7.8.1991) by S.I. 1991/1773, art. 8(2), Sch. 2.

S. 222: certain functions transferred (7.8.1991) by S.I. 1991/1773, art. 8, Sch. 2.

C3 S. 222 modified (10.1.1992) by S.I. 1991/2913, art. 8(2), Sch. 2.

S. 222: certain functions transferred (10.1.1992) 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)

C4 S. 222 modified (22.7.2004) by The Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Establishment of Conservation Board) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1777), art. 29(1)(h)

S. 222 modified (22.7.2004) by The Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Establishment of Conservation Board) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1778), art. 29(1)(h)

C5 Ss. 222-223 modified (E.) (6.4.2010) by The Cowes Port Health Authority Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1216), arts. 1(1), 4, Sch.

C6 S. 222 modified (E.) (6.4.2010) by The Portsmouth Port Health Authority Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1217), arts. 1(1), 4, Sch.

C7 Ss. 222-223 applied (with modifications) (E.) (24.3.2011) by The Hull and Goole Port Health Authority Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/939), arts. 1(1), 7, Sch. 1

C8 S. 222 modified (1.4.2011) by The Greater Manchester Combined Authority Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/908), arts. 1, 11(b)

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, [F2 to conduct any such proceedings.]

(2) In this section “local authority” includes the Common Council [F3 , a joint authority, [F4 an economic prosperity board, a combined authority,][F5 a joint waste authority,][F6 the Greater London Authority][F7 and][F8 , a [F9 police and crime commissioner and the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime]] . . .]. . ..

Textual Amendments

F2 Words in s. 223(1) substituted (1.1.2010) by Legal Services Act 2007 (c. 29), ss. 208, 211, Sch. 21 para. 28 (with ss. 29, 192, 193); S.I. 2009/3250, art. 2(h) (with art. 9)

F3 Words inserted by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), s. 84, Sch. 14 para. 21

F4 Words in s. 223(2) inserted (17.12.2009) by Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (c. 20), ss. 119, 148(6), Sch. 6 para. 24; S.I. 2009/3318, art. 2

F5 Words in s. 223(2) inserted (1.4.2008) by Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (c. 28), ss. 209, 245, Sch. 13 para. 13; S.I 2008/917, {art. 2(1)(o)(p)}

F6 Words in s. 223(2) inserted (20.11.2001) by S.I. 2001/3719, art. 2, Sch. para. 2

F7 Word in s. 223(2) inserted (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 120(1), Sch. 22 para. 17(a) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 3

F8 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 and S.I. 1994/3262, arts. 4, 5, Sch.

F9 Words in s. 223(2) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 109; S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1 (with Sch. 2 para. 30)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C5 Ss. 222-223 modified (E.) (6.4.2010) by The Cowes Port Health Authority Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1216), arts. 1(1), 4, Sch.

C7 Ss. 222-223 applied (with modifications) (E.) (24.3.2011) by The Hull and Goole Port Health Authority Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/939), arts. 1(1), 7, Sch. 1

C9 S. 223 amended by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), s. 57(7), Sch. 13 para. 12(f)

C10 S. 223 modified (7.8.1991) by S.I. 1991/1773, art. 8(2), Sch. 2

S. 223: certain functions transferred (7.8.1991) by S.I. 1991/1773, art. 8, Sch. 2

C11 S. 223 modified (10.1.1992) by S.I. 1991/2913, art. 8(2), Sch. 2

S. 223: certain functions transferred (10.1.1992) 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)

S. 223 applied (18.7.1996) by S.I. 1996/1880, art. 76

S. 223: power conferred to make provisions about matters of the kind dealt with in this section (1.9.1997) by 1997 c. 50, s. 44(1), Sch. 4(a)(xii); S.I. 1997/1930, art. 2(1)(2)(m)

C12 S. 223 modified (22.7.2004) by The Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Establishment of Conservation Board) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1777), art. 29(1)(h)

S. 223 modified (22.7.2004) by The Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Establishment of Conservation Board) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1778), art. 29(1)(h)

C13 S. 223 applied (4.2.2005) by The Local Authorities (Contracting Out of BID Levy Billing, Collection and Enforcement Functions) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/215), art. 21

C14 S. 223 modified (E.) (11.5.2007) by The Local Authorities (Contracting Out of Anti-social Behaviour Order Functions) (England) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/1441), art. 4

C15 S. 223 modified (E.) (6.4.2010) by The Portsmouth Port Health Authority Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1217), arts. 1(1), 4, Sch.

C16 S. 223 applied (7.12.2011) by The Local Authorities (Contracting Out of Community Infrastructure Levy Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/2918), arts. 1(1), 10

C17 S. 223(2) amended by S.I. 1985/1884, art. 10, Sch. 3 para. 1(m)

C18 S. 223(2) modified by S.I. 1987/2110, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 para. 3(m)