Part VIE+W Discharge of Functions

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1Pt. VI (ss. 101-110): power conferred to make provisions about matters of the kind dealt with in this part (1.9.1997) by 1997 c. 50, s. 44(1), Sch. 4(a)(iv); S.I. 1997/1930, art. 2(1)(2)(m)

101 Arrangements for discharge of functions by local authorities. E+W

(1)Subject to any express provision contained in this Act or any Act passed after this Act, a local authority may arrange for the discharge of any of their functions—

(a)by a committee, a sub-committee or an officer of the authority; or

(b)by any other local authority.

(2)Where by virtue of this section any functions of a local authority may be discharged by a committee of theirs, then, unless the local authority otherwise direct, the committee may arrange for the discharge of any of those functions by a sub-committee or an officer of the authority and where by virtue of this section any functions of a local authority may be discharged by a sub-committee of the authority, then, unless the local authority or the committee otherwise direct, the sub-committee may arrange for the discharge of any of those functions by an officer of the authority.

(3)Where arrangements are in force under this section for the discharge of any functions of a local authority by another local authority, then, subject to the terms of the arrangements, that other authority may arrange for the discharge of those functions by a committee, sub-committee or officer of theirs and subsection (2) above shall apply in relation to those functions as it applies in relation to the functions of that other authority.

(4)Any arrangements made by a local authority or committee under this section for the discharge of any functions by a committee, sub-committee, officer or local authority shall not prevent the authority or committee by whom the arrangements are made from exercising those functions.

(5)Two or more local authorities may discharge any of their functions jointly and, where arrangements are in force for them to do so,—

(a)they may also arrange for the discharge of those functions by a joint committee of theirs or by an officer of one of them and subsection (2) above shall apply in relation to those functions as it applies in relation to the functions of the individual authorities; and

(b)any enactment relating to those functions or the authorities by whom or the areas in respect of which they are to be discharged shall have effect subject to all necessary modifications in its application in relation to those functions and the authorities by whom and the areas in respect of which (whether in pursuance of the arrangements or otherwise) they are to be discharged.

(6)A local authority’s functions with respect to levying, or issuing a precept for, a rate . . . F1 shall be discharged only by the authority.

(7)A local authority shall not make arrangements under this section for the discharge of any of their functions under the M1Diseases of Animals Act 1950 by any other local authority.

(8)Any enactment, except one mentioned in subsection (9) below, which contains any provision—

(a)which empowers or requires local authorities or any class of local authorities to establish committees (including joint committees) for any purpose or enables a Minister to make an instrument establishing committees of local authorities for any purpose or empowering or requiring a local authority or any class of local authorities to establish committees for any purpose; or

(b)which empowers or requires local authorities or any class of local authorities to arrange or to join with other authorities in arranging for the exercise by committees so established or by officers of theirs of any of their functions, or provides that any specified functions of theirs shall be discharged by such committees or officers, or enables any Minister to make an instrument conferring such a power, imposing such a requirement or containing such a provision;

shall, to the extent that it makes any such provision, cease to have effect.

(9)The following enactments, that is to say—

(a)paragraphs 1 and 3 to 11 of Part II of Schedule 1 to the M2Education Act 1944 (education committees of local education authorities);

(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2

(c)sections 2 and 3 of the M3Police Act 1964 (police committees);

(d)section 1 of the M4Sea Fisheries Regulation Act 1966;

(e). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F3

(f)section 2 of the M5Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 (social services committees);

(g). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F4

(h)Part I of Schedule 17 to this Act;

are exempted from subsection (8) above.

(10)This section shall not authorise a local authority to arrange for the discharge by any committee, sub-committee or local authority of any functions which by any enactment mentioned in subsection (9) above are required or authorised to be discharged by a specified committee, but the foregoing provision shall not prevent a local authority who are required by or under any such enactment to establish, or delegate functions to, a committee established by or under any such enactment from arranging under this section for the discharge of their functions by an officer of the local authority or committee, as the case may be.

(11). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F5

(12)References in this section and section 102 below to the discharge of any of the functions of a local authority include references to the doing of anything which is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the discharge of any of those functions.

(13)In this Part of this Act “local authority” includes the Common Council, the Sub-Treasurer of the Inner Temple, the Under Treasurer of the Middle Temple, [F6any joint authority except a police authority, . . . F7,] a joint board on which a local authority within the meaning of this Act or any of the foregoing authorities are represented and, without prejudice to the foregoing, any port health authority.

(14)Nothing in this section affects the operation of section 5 of the 1963 Act or the M6Local Authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970.

Textual Amendments

F1Words repealed (subject to savings in S.I. 1990/431, art. 4, Sch. 1 para. 1(b)) by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 81:1), ss. 45(4)(5), 194(4), Sch. 12 Pt. II

F2S. 101(9)(b) repealed by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), ss. 1, 102, Sch. 17

F3S. 101(9)(e) repealed by Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act 1983 (c. 41, SIF 113:3), s. 30, Sch. 10 Pt. I

F4S. 101(9)(g) repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1986 (c. 12), s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. VII

F5S. 101(11) repealed by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), ss. 1, 102, Sch. 17

F6Words inserted by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), s. 84(1), Sch. 14 para. 15

F7Words 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)

C2S. 101 extended by Local Government Act 1974 (c. 7), s. 25(4)

C3S. 101 excluded by Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976 (c. 32, SIF 12:1), s. 6(3) and by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 81:1, 2), ss. 4(5), 5(5) and by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 81:1), s. 45(4)