7 Power to enter into arrangements.E+W+S
(1)If the Secretary of State is or Ministers are satisfied that special social need exists in any inner urban area in Great Britain and that the conditions which give rise to the existence of that need are such that a concerted effort should be made to alleviate them, he or they may, as respects any district [F1or Welsh county or county borough] which includes the whole or any part of that area, enter into arrangements with—
(a)[F2as respects any such district] the council of that district or the council of the county [F3or region] which includes that district or both; and
[F4(aa)as respects any such Welsh county or county borough, the council of that county or county borough;]
(b)such other person or persons (if any) as may appear to him or them appropriate,
being arrangements for determining, by consultation between the parties, the action to be taken (whether in the district [F1or Welsh county or county borough] or not) for the purpose of alleviating those conditions.
(2)Where each of two or more districts includes the whole or any part of any inner urban area as respects which the Secretary of State is or Ministers are satisfied as mentioned in subsection (1) above, arrangements under that subsection may take the form of a single set of arrangements covering both or all of those districts.
[F4(2A)For the purposes of subsection (2) above, references to districts include references to Welsh counties and county boroughs.]
(3)In this section “Ministers” means the Secretary of State and any other Minister or Ministers of the Crown; and in subsection (1) above “action” includes the exercise of functions under this or any other Act (whenever passed) including, in particular, functions (whether of Ministers or councils) relating to planning or the compulsory acquisition of land.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 7(1) inserted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 19, s. 66(6), Sch. 16 para. 55(3) (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1996/396, art. 4, Sch. 2
F2Words in s. 7(1)(a) inserted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 19, s. 66(6), Sch. 16 para. 55(3) (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1996/396, art. 4, Sch. 2
F3Words in s. 7(1)(a) repealed (S.) (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1)(2), Sch. 13 para. 114(4), Sch. 14; S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(b)(c)(d), Sch. 2
F4S. 7(1)(aa)(2A) inserted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 19, s. 66(6), Sch. 16 para. 55(3) (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1996/396, art. 4, Sch. 2