Housing (Scotland) Act 1987

329 Power of Secretary of State in event of failure of local authority to exercise powers

(1) In any case where—

(a) a complaint has been made to the Secretary of State as respects the district of any local authority, by any four or more local government electors of the area, that the local authority have failed to exercise any of their powers under this Act in any case where those powers ought to have been exercised; or

(b) the Secretary of State is of opinion that an investigation should be made as to whether a local authority have so failed,

the Secretary of State may cause a public local inquiry to be held.

(2) If, after the inquiry has been held, the Secretary of State is satisfied that there has been such a failure on the part of the local authority, he may, after giving the authority an opportunity of making representations, make an order enabling him to exercise such of those powers as may be specified in the order.

(3) Any expenses incurred by the Secretary of State in exercising such powers shall be paid in the first instance out of moneys provided by Parliament, but the amount of those expenses as certified by the Secretary of State shall on demand be paid by the local authority to the Secretary of State and shall be recoverable as a debt due to the Crown.

(4) The payment of any such expenses shall, so far as the expenses are of a capital nature, be a purpose for which a local authority may borrow money.

(5) The Secretary of State may by order vest in and transfer to the local authority any property, debts or liabilities acquired or incurred by him in exercising the powers of the authority.

(6) If an order made under subsection (2) is revoked, the Secretary of State may, either by the revoking order or by a supplementary order, make such provision as appears to him desirable with respect to the transfer, vesting and discharge of any property, debts or liabilities acquired or incurred by the Secretary of State in exercising the powers and duties to which the order so revoked related.