(1)If the Secretary of State is satisfied that any other relevant authority has failed to perform any functions which it ought to have performed, he may make an order declaring the authority to be in default.
(2)An order made by virtue of the preceding subsection which declares an authority to be in default may, for the purpose of remedying the default, direct the authority (hereafter in this section referred to as “the defaulting authority”) to perform such of its functions as are specified in the order and may specify the manner in which and the time or times within which those functions are to be performed by the authority.
(3)If the defaulting authority fails to comply with any direction contained in such an order the Secretary of State may, instead of enforcing the order by mandamus, make an order transferring to himself such of the functions of the authority as he thinks fit.
(4)Where any functions of the defaulting authority are transferred in pursuance of the preceding subsection, the amount of any expenses which the Secretary of State certifies were incurred by him in performing those functions shall on demand be paid to him by the defaulting authority.
(5)Any expenses which in pursuance of the preceding subsection are required to be paid by the defaulting authority in respect of any functions transferred in pursuance of this section shall be defrayed by the authority in the like manner, and shall be debited to the like account, as if the functions had not been transferred and the expenses had been incurred by the authority in performing them; and the authority shall have the like powers for the purpose of raising any money required in pursuance of this subsection as the authority would have had for the purpose of raising money required for defraying expenses incurred for the purposes of the functions in question.
(6)An order transferring any functions of the defaulting authority in pursuance of subsection (3) of this section may provide for the transfer to the Secretary of State of such of the property, rights, liabilities and obligations of the authority as he considers appropriate; and where such an order is revoked the Secretary of State may, by the revoking order or a subsequent order, make such provision as he considers appropriate with respect to any property, rights, liabilities and obligations held by him for the purposes of the transferred functions.
(7)The Secretary of State may by order vary or revoke any order previously made by him in pursuance of this section.
(8)In this section “functions”, in relation to an authority, means functions conferred on the authority by virtue of this Act.
(9)This section shall not apply to Scotland.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 97 extended (14.10.1991) by Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 (c. 14, SIF 46:4), s. 7(8); S.I. 1991/1618, art. 3
C2S. 97: certain functions transferred (10.1.1992) by S.I. 1991/2913, art. 8(1)(3), Sch. 2
S. 97: certain functions transferred (7.8.1991) by S.I. 1991/1773, art. 8(1)(3), Sch. 2
S. 97 modified (7.8.1991) by S.I. 1991/1773, art. 8(2)(3), Sch. 2
S. 97 modified (10.1.1992) by S.I. 1991/2913, art. 8(2)(3), Sch. 2