Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980

2 Duty of authorities to publish information. E+W

(1) The authorities to whom this section applies are—

(a) a county council;

[F1 (aa) a county borough council;]

(b) a district council;

[F2 (ba) a parish council;

(bb) a parish meeting of a parish which does not have a separate parish council;

(bc) a community council;]

F3 (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(d) a London borough council;

(e) the Common Council of the City of London;

(f) the Council of the Isles of Scilly;

(g) in Scotland, a [F4 council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994];

[F5 (h) a fire and rescue authority constituted by a scheme under section 2 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 or a scheme to which section 4 of that Act applies;]

(j) [F6 a police committee constituted under section 2 of the Police Act 1964 or in Scotland] a police authority constituted under section 2 of the M1 Police (Scotland) Act 1967;

(k) [F6 a combined police authority constituted in accordance with the provisions of an amalgamation scheme under section 21 of the Police Act 1964 or in Scotland], a joint police [F7 board] constituted in accordance with the provisions of an amalgamation scheme under section 19 [F7 , 20 or 21B] of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967; F8 . . .

[F9 (ka) a joint authority established by Part IV of the M2 Local Government Act 1985;]

[F10 (kaa) an authority established for an area in England by an order under section 207 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (joint waste authorities);]

[F11 (kab) an economic prosperity board established under section 88 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009;

(kac) a combined authority established under section 103 of that Act;]

[F12 (kb) the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority;]

F13 (l) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F14 ; and any other authority which is a best value authority for the purposes of Part I of the Local Government Act 1999 (best value) [F15 or a Welsh improvement authority for the purposes of Part 1 of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009].]

[F16 (1A) This section also applies to an authority which—

(a) is not within subsection (1) above;

(b) is not within section 4(4) below; and

(c) is, or is treated as, a smaller authority for the purposes of section 5 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (modification of that Act in relation to smaller authorities).]

(2) The Secretary of State may issue for the purposes of this section a code of recommended practice as to the publication of information by such authorities about the discharge of their functions and other matters (including forecasts) which he considers to be related.

F17 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) A code may be prepared either by the Secretary of State or by some other person at his request.

(5) The Secretary of State may from time to time revise or request some other person to revise the whole or any part of a code.

(6) A code may specify—

(a) that publication be made in periodical reports or in any other specified manner;

(b) the occasions on which such publication is to made; and

(c) the form which such publication is to take.

(7) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (6) above, a code may specify, as a manner of publishing information—

F18 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F19 (b) its inclusion in a statement of accounts prepared by an authority to which this section applies in accordance with regulations under section 27 of the Audit Commission Act 1998 [F20 or section 39 of the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004] or in an abstract of accounts prepared by such an authority in accordance with regulations under section 105 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973; or]

(c) its being made available for inspection by members of the public at an authority’s office or elsewhere.

(8) A code may specify steps which authorities are to take to inform the public of the availability of the information.

(9) Where a code specifies information as to the cost of the discharge of any of the functions of authorities, it may specify how the cost is to be determined.

(10) More than one code may be issued under this section, and different codes may deal with—

(a) different classes of information;

(b) different kinds of authority or the same kind of authority in different circumstances or different areas ;

(c) different manners, forms or occasions of publication.

[F21 (11) A code issued under this section applies to an authority within subsection (1A) above only in respect of information relating to a financial year during which the authority was within that subsection.

(12) A function under this section or section 3 below that is expressed to be exercisable by the Secretary of State is exercisable by the Secretary of State (and not the Welsh Ministers) in relation to a person or body that—

(a) is within subsection (1A), and

(b) exercises functions in relation to an area that is partly in England and partly in Wales.]

Extent Information

E1 This version of this provision extends to England and Wales only; a separate version has been created for Scotland only.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 2(1)(aa) inserted (3.4.1995) by 1994 c. 19, s. 66(6), Sch. 16 para. 57(1) (with ss. 55, 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1995/852, art. 9(1), Sch. 5

F2 S. 2(1)(ba)-(bc) inserted (1.4.2008) by Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (c. 28), s. 245(5), Sch. 7 para. 1; S.I. 2008/917, art. 2(1)(a)

F3 S. 2(1)(c) repealed by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), ss. 1, 102, Sch. 17

F4 Words in s. 2(1)(g) substituted (S.) (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13 para. 120(2)(a); S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(c)

F5 S. 2(1)(h) substituted (1.10.2004 except in relation to W.) by Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 (c. 21), s. 61, Sch. 1 para. 49(2); S.I. 2004/2304, art. 2

F6 Words in s. 2(1)(j)(k) repealed (1.10.1994 for certain purposes only and 1.4.1995 otherwise) by 1994 c. 29, ss. 43, 93, Sch. 4 Pt. I para. 19, Sch. 9 Pt. I; S.I. 1994/2025, art. 6(1)(2)(6); S.I. 1994/3262, art. 4(1), Sch.

F7 Words in s. 2(1)(k) substituted (S.) (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13 para. 120(2)(c); S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(c)

F8 Word repealed by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), s. 84, Sch. 14 Pt. II para. 59(1)(a)

F9 S. 2(1)(ka) inserted by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), s. 84, Sch. 14 para. 59(1)(a)

F10 S. 2(1)(kaa) inserted (1.4.2008) by Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (c. 28), s. 245(5), Sch. 13 para. 36(2); S.I. 2008/917, art. 2(1)(p)

F11 S. 2(1)(kab)(kac) inserted (17.12.2009) by Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (c. 20), s. 148(6), Sch. 6 para. 49; S.I. 2009/3318, art. 2(c)

F12 S. 2(1)(kb) inserted (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 328(8), Sch. 29 Pt. I para. 28 (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/1094, art. 4(a)(h)

F13 S. 2(1)(l) repealed by Education Reform Act 1988 (c. 40, SIF 41:1), s. 237, Sch. 13 Pt. I

F14 Words in s. 2(1) inserted (27.9.1999 in relation to E. and for specified purposes only in relation to W. on 27.9.1999 and otherwise in force in relation to W. on 1.10.1999) by 1999 c. 27, s. 20; S.I. 1999/2169, art. 3(2), Sch. 2; S.I. 1999/2815, art. 2

F15 Words in s. 2(1) inserted (E.W.) (1.4.2010) by Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009 (nawm 2), s. 53(2), Sch. 1 para. 2; S.I. 2009/3272, art. 3(1), Sch. 2

F16 S. 2(1A) inserted (4.4.2014 for specified purposes) by Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (c. 2), ss. 38(a), 49(1); S.I. 2014/900, art. 2(f)

F17 S. 2(3) repealed (1.11.1996) by 1996 c. 56, ss. 582(2), 583(2), Sch. 38 Pt. I (with ss. 1(4), 561, 562, Sch. 39)

F18 S. 2(7)(a) repealed (22.7.2004) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2004 (c. 14), Sch. 1 Pt. 10 Group 3

F19 S. 2(7)(b) substituted (11.9.1998) by 1998 c. 18, ss. 54(1), 55(2), Sch. 3 para. 5(1)

F20 Words in s. 2(7)(b) inserted (1.4.2005) by Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004 (c. 23), s. 73, Sch. 2 para. 3; S.I. 2005/558, art. 2, Sch. 1

F21 S. 2(11)(12) inserted (4.4.2014 for specified purposes) by Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (c. 2), ss. 38(b), 49(1); S.I. 2014/900, art. 2(f)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 S. 2(7)(ka) extended by S.I. 1985/1884, art. 10, Sch. 3 para. 4(s) and S.I. 1987/2110, art. 2, Sch. 1 para. 8(n)

Marginal Citations

M1 1967 c. 77.

M2 1985 c. 51 (81:1).

2 Duty of authorities to publish information. S

(1) The authorities to whom this section applies are—

(a) a county council;

[F22 (aa) a county borough council;]

(b) a district council;

[F2 (ba) a parish council;

(bb) a parish meeting of a parish which does not have a separate parish council;

(bc) a community council;]

F23 (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(d) a London borough council;

(e) the Common Council of the City of London;

(f) the Council of the Isles of Scilly;

(g) in Scotland, a [F24 council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994];

F25 (h) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F26 (j) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F26 (k) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F27 (ka) a joint authority established by Part IV of the M3 Local Government Act 1985;]

[F10 (kaa) an authority established for an area in England by an order under section 207 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (joint waste authorities);]

[F11 (kab) an economic prosperity board established under section 88 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009;

(kac) a combined authority established under section 103 of that Act;]

[F28 (kb) the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority;]

F29 (l) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F30 ; and any other authority which is a best value authority for the purposes of Part I of the Local Government Act 1999 (best value).

[F16 (1A) This section also applies to an authority which—

(a) is not within subsection (1) above;

(b) is not within section 4(4) below; and

(c) is, or is treated as, a smaller authority for the purposes of section 5 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (modification of that Act in relation to smaller authorities).]

(2) The Secretary of State may issue for the purposes of this section a code of recommended practice as to the publication of information by such authorities about the discharge of their functions and other matters (including forecasts) which he considers to be related.

F31 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) A code may be prepared either by the Secretary of State or by some other person at his request.

(5) The Secretary of State may from time to time revise or request some other person to revise the whole or any part of a code.

(6) A code may specify—

(a) that publication be made in periodical reports or in any other specified manner;

(b) the occasions on which such publication is to made; and

(c) the form which such publication is to take.

(7) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (6) above, a code may specify, as a manner of publishing information—

F18 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F32 (aa) its dispatch with, or inclusion in—

(i) a demand note for payment of rates issued under section 237(1) of the M4 Local Government (Scotland) Act 1947 ; or

[F33 (ii) a notice given by virtue of regulations made under paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to the Local Government Finance Act 1992]]

(b) its inclusion in an abstract of accounts prepared by an authority to whom this section applies in accordance with regulations under section 166 of the M5 Local Government Act 1972 or section 105 of the M6 Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973; or

(c) its being made available for inspection by members of the public at an authority’s office or elsewhere.

(8) A code may specify steps which authorities are to take to inform the public of the availability of the information.

(9) Where a code specifies information as to the cost of the discharge of any of the functions of authorities, it may specify how the cost is to be determined.

(10) More than one code may be issued under this section, and different codes may deal with—

(a) different classes of information;

(b) different kinds of authority or the same kind of authority in different circumstances or different areas;

(c) different manners, forms or occasions of publication.

[F21 (11) A code issued under this section applies to an authority within subsection (1A) above only in respect of information relating to a financial year during which the authority was within that subsection.

(12) A function under this section or section 3 below that is expressed to be exercisable by the Secretary of State is exercisable by the Secretary of State (and not the Welsh Ministers) in relation to a person or body that—

(a) is within subsection (1A), and

(b) exercises functions in relation to an area that is partly in England and partly in Wales.]

Extent Information

E2 This version of this provision extends to Scotland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales only.

Textual Amendments

F2 S. 2(1)(ba)-(bc) inserted (1.4.2008) by Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (c. 28), s. 245(5), Sch. 7 para. 1; S.I. 2008/917, art. 2(1)(a)

F10 S. 2(1)(kaa) inserted (1.4.2008) by Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (c. 28), s. 245(5), Sch. 13 para. 36(2); S.I. 2008/917, art. 2(1)(p)

F11 S. 2(1)(kab)(kac) inserted (17.12.2009) by Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (c. 20), s. 148(6), Sch. 6 para. 49; S.I. 2009/3318, art. 2(c)

F16 S. 2(1A) inserted (4.4.2014 for specified purposes) by Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (c. 2), ss. 38(a), 49(1); S.I. 2014/900, art. 2(f)

F18 S. 2(7)(a) repealed (22.7.2004) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2004 (c. 14), Sch. 1 Pt. 10 Group 3

F21 S. 2(11)(12) inserted (4.4.2014 for specified purposes) by Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (c. 2), ss. 38(b), 49(1); S.I. 2014/900, art. 2(f)

F22 S. 2(1)(aa) inserted (3.4.1995) by 1994 c. 19, s. 66(6), Sch. 16 para. 57(1) (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1995/852, art. 9(1), Sch. 5

F23 S. 2(1)(c) repealed by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), ss. 1, 102, Sch. 17

F24 Words in s. 2(1)(g)(h)(k) substituted (S.) (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13 para. 120(2); S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(c)

F25 S. 2(1)(h) repealed (S.) (1.4.2013) by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 8), s. 129(2), sch. 8 Pt. 2; S.S.I. 2013/51, art. 2 (with transitional provisions and savings in S.S.I. 2013/121)

F26 S. 2(1)(j)(k) omitted (S.) (1.4.2013) by virtue of The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Consequential Modifications and Savings) Order 2013 (S.S.I. 2013/119), art. 1, sch. 1 para. 7

F27 S. 2(1)(ka) inserted by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), s. 84, Sch. 14 para. 59(1)(a)

F28 S. 2(1)(kb) inserted (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 328(8), Sch. 29 Pt. I para. 28 (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/1094, art. 4(a)(h)

F29 S. 2(1)(l) repealed by Education Reform Act 1988 (c. 40, SIF 41:1), s. 237, Sch. 13 Pt. I

F30 Words in s. 2(1) inserted (27.7.2000) by 1999 c. 27, ss. 20, 27(1)

F31 S. 2(3) repealed (1.11.1996) by 1996 c. 56, ss. 582(2), 583(2), Sch. 38 Pt. I (with ss. 1(4), 561, 562, Sch. 39)

F32 S. 2(7)(aa) inserted by Local Government Finance Act 1988 (c. 41, SIF 103:2), s. 137, Sch. 12 Pt. II para. 14

F33 S. 2(7)(aa)(ii) substituted (1.10.1992) by Local Government Finance Act 1992 (c. 14), s. 117(1), Sch. 13 para. 49 (with s. 118(1)(2)(4)); S.I. 1992/2183, art. 2(c).

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C3 S. 2(7)(ka) extended by S.I. 1985/1884, art. 10, Sch. 3 para 4(s) and S.I. 1987/2110, art. 2, Sch. 1 para. 8(n)

Marginal Citations

M3 1985 c. 51 (81:1).

M4 1947 c. 43(103:2).

M5 1972 c. 70 (81:1.

M6 1973 c. 65 (81:2.