Development of Rural Wales Act 1976

4 General powers of the Board

(1) For the purpose of enabling it to discharge its general function under this Act, the Board shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, have the following powers in relation to the area for which it is responsible, that is to say, power—

(a) to acquire, hold, manage, develop and dispose of land or other property;

(b) to carry out building and other operations;

(c) to provide services for any land or other property ;

(d) to provide finance—

(i) for the taking by any local authority or statutory undertakers of such measures as the Board considers will contribute to the economic or social development of that area ; or

(ii) for such activities of other persons as the Board considers will contribute to the social development of that area;

(e) as agent of the Welsh Development Agency, to provide finance for persons carrying on or intending to carry on industrial undertakings in that area;

(f) as agent of the Welsh Development Agency, to provide services (other than finance) for any undertaking or business which is or is intended to be carried on in that area;

(g) to carry on or acquire and carry on any undertaking or business;

(h) to do anything which is likely to facilitate the discharge of the Board's functions or is incidental or conducive to their discharge.

(2) The things which may be done under paragraph (h) of subsection (1) above include the carrying out of agricultural operations and the carrying on of forestry and afforestation.

(3) The powers conferred by paragraphs (c), (d) and (h) of subsection (1) above may be exercised outside the area for which the Board is responsible.

(4) Finance may be provided under this section by way of grant, loan or the giving of guarantees or by any combination of those means.

(5) The conditions which may be attached to the provision of finance under this section include conditions for repayment of the whole or any part of a grant in any circumstances.

(6) The Board shall not exercise the powers—

(a) to dispose of land or other property, or

(b) to provide finance under subsection (1)(d) above, or

(c) to carry on or acquire and carry on any undertaking or business,

without the consent of the Secretary of State.

(7) The Secretary of State shall not consent under subsection (6) above to the provision of finance under subsection (1)(d) above without the approval of the Treasury.

(8) In exercising any of the powers conferred by subsection (1) above, the Board shall have regard to the need to conserve agricultural land and to the requirements of agriculture and efficient land management.

(9) Any consent or approval to the exercise of a power under this section may be given for the purpose of the particular case or for the purpose of a class of cases.