Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973

197 Inspection and deposit of documents

(1) The minutes of—

(a) the proceedings of a local authority,

(b) the proceedings of any committee appointed by a local authority so far as such proceedings relate to any of the authority's functions under the [1948 c. 29.] National Assistance Act 1948, the Education (Scotland) Acts 1939 to 1973, the [1972 c. 58.] National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1972 or the [1972 c. 52.] Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972, and

(c) the proceedings of any joint committee or joint board established for the purpose of performing all or any of the functions of two or more local authorities under any of the Acts mentioned in paragraph (b) above,

shall be open to the inspection of any local government elector for the area of the local authority or, in the case of a joint committee or joint board, the area of any of the local authorities represented on the joint committee or joint board, at all reasonable hours on payment of a fee not exceeding 10p, and any such local government elector may make a copy thereof or an extract therefrom.

(2) In any case in which a document of any description is deposited with the proper officer of a local authority, pursuant to the standing orders of either House of Parliament or to any enactment or instrument, the proper officer shall receive and retain the document in the manner and for the purposes directed by the standing orders or enactment or instrument, and shall make such notes or endorsements on, and give such acknowledgements and receipts in respect of, the document as may be so directed.

(3) Subject to any provisions to the contrary in any other enactment or instrument, a person interested in any such map, plan or other document as is mentioned in subsection (2) above, may, at all reasonable hours, inspect and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom on payment to the person having custody thereof of a fee not exceeding 10p for every such inspection, and of a further fee not exceeding 10p for every hour during which such inspection continues after the first hour.

(4) If a person having the custody of any such document—

(a) obstructs any person entitled to inspect the document or to make a copy thereof or extract therefrom in inspecting the document or making a copy or extract,

(b) refuses to give copies or extracts to any person entitled to obtain copies or extracts,

he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £20.

(5) A local authority may remit any fee chargeable under this section.