Local Government and Housing Act 1989

Part II E+W+S Local Government Administration

22 Advisory Commissioners. E+W+S

(1) Section 23 of the M1 Local Government Act 1974 (constitution and functions of Commissions for Local Administration) shall have effect with the amendments specified in subsections (2) to (4) below.

(2) In subsection (1), at the end, there shall be added the words “ but each of the Commissions may include persons appointed to act as advisers, not exceeding the number appointed to conduct investigations." ”

(3) In subsection (3), after the words “Parliamentary Commissioner” there shall be inserted the words “ or an advisory member" ”.

(4) In subsections (4), (5) and (6) the word “Local” shall be omitted.

(5) In Schedule 4 to the said Act, in paragraph 3 (remuneration), at the end there shall be inserted the following sub-paragraph–

“(3) Sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) above apply in relation to Commissioners who are advisory members of the Commission as they apply in relation to Local Commissioners.”

Marginal Citations

M1 1974 c. 7.

23 Advice and guidance by Commissions for Local Administration and ScottishCommissioner. E+W+S

(1) In section 23 of the Local Government Act 1974 (appointment and functions of Commissions for Local Administration) there shall be inserted, after subsection (12), the following subsections—

“(12A) Each of the Commissions may, after consultation with the representative persons and authorities concerned, provide to the authorities or any of the authorities to which this Part of this Act applies such advice and guidance about good administrative practice as appears to the Commission to be appropriate and may arrange for it to be published for the information of the public.

(12B) The representative persons and authorities concerned are—

(a) for the purposes of subsection (12) above, such persons appearing to the Commission to represent authorities in England or, as the case may be,authorities in Wales to which this Part of this Act applies, and in the case of such authorities as are not so represented, those authorities; and

(b) for the purposes of subsection (12A) above, such of those persons and authorities as the Commission think appropriate.”

(2) In section 21 of the M2 Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975 (appointment and functions of Commissioner for Local Administration in Scotland) there shall be inserted, after subsection (4), the following subsection—

“(4A) The Commissioner may, after consultation with such associations of local authorities as appear to him to be appropriate, provide to the authorities to which this Part of this Act applies such advice and guidance about good administrative practice as appears to him to be appropriate and may arrange for it to be published for the information of the public.”

Marginal Citations

M2 1975 c. 30.

24 Expenses of Commissions for Local Administration. E+W+S

(1) The following provisions shall be substituted for paragraphs 6 to 11 of Schedule 4 to the Local Government Act 1974—

“ Expenses of the Commissions

6 (1) Each of the Commissions shall be treated as if they were a specified body for the purposes of sections 78 and 79 (revenue support grant) of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (“the 1988 Act”), and those sections shall accordingly have effect with the following modifications.

(2) Before making a determination under section 78 of the 1988 Act, the Secretary of State shall, except in the case mentioned in paragraph 8 below, take into account estimates of the expenses of each Commission together with any observations thereon made and submitted to him in accordance with paragraph 7 below.

(3) The Secretary of State may also take into account any other information available to him as to the expenses of the Commissions, whatever its source.

(4) A determination under section 78 of the 1988 Act shall not be invalid merely because the requirements of paragraph 7 below were not complied with.

(5) For the purposes of section 78(7) of the 1988 Act, each Commission shall be treated as if they were also a notifiable authority.

7 (1) Each Commission shall prepare an estimate of the expenses which they will incur in the forthcoming financial year with a view to submitting it to the Secretary of State.

(2) Each Commission shall send copies of the estimate to such representatives of local government as the Secretary of State directs for consideration by those representatives.

(3) Any observations by those representatives shall be submitted to the Commission within one month of the receipt of the Commission’s estimate, and it shall be the duty of the Commission to take any such observations into consideration before submitting their estimate of their expenses to the Secretary of State.

(4) Each Commission shall, not later than such date in any year as the Secretary of State specifies in writing to the Commission, submit their estimate of their expenses for the forthcoming financial year to the Secretary of State together with copies of all observations made under this paragraph by the representatives of local government or, if none were made, together with a statement of that fact.

8 Where a Commission fail to submit an estimate of their expenses for the forthcoming financial year under paragraph 7 above, the Secretary of State may, for the purposes of a determination under section 78 of the 1988 Act, assume those expenses to be such as he sees fit.”

(2) Anything done before the passing of this Act which corresponds to a thing authorised or required to be done by any provision of the paragraphs 6(2) and (3), 7 and 8 substituted by subsection (1) above and done for the purposes ofsections 78 and 79 of the M3 Local Government Finance Act 1988 shall be treated as validly done under that provision and those sections shall have effect accordingly.

(3) The foregoing provisions shall have effect for the financial years beginning on or after 1st April 1990.

Marginal Citations

M3 1988 c. 41.

25 Annual reports of Commissions: new provisions. E+W+S

(1) The representative body for England and the representative body for Wales designated under section 24 of the M4 Local Government Act 1974 are hereby dissolved and accordingly that section shall cease to have effect.

(2) After section 23 of that Act there shall be inserted the following section—

“23A Annual reports for representatives etc.

(1) For the financial year ending in 1990 and for each subsequent financial year, each of the Commissions shall prepare a general report on the discharge of their functions and shall submit it—

(a) to such persons as appear to the Commission to represent authorities in England or, as the case may be, authorities in Wales to which this Part of this Act applies, and

(b) in the case of such authorities as are not so represented, to those authorities.

(2) The report shall be submitted as soon as may be after the Commission have received the reports for the year from Local Commissioners under section 23(11) above, and each Commission shall submit copies of those reports, together with their own report.

(3) Each Commission shall arrange for the publication of the report submitted by them under subsection (1) above and of the reports of which copies are submitted by them under subsection (2) above.

(4) Before arranging for the publication of a report under subsection (3) above the Commission concerned shall give a reasonable opportunity for the representative persons and authorities to whom the report was submitted to comment on it.

(5) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (4) above, comments made by the representative persons and authorities by virtue of that subsection may relate to particular classes of authorities to which this Part of this Act applies.

(6) Where the Commission for Local Administration in Wales consist of only one Local Commissioner, section 23(11) above and subsection (2) above shall have effect with the necessary modifications.”

Marginal Citations

M4 1974 c. 7.

26 Implementation of recommendations of Commissioners for Local Administration in England and Wales. E+W+S

(1) In section 31 of the Local Government Act 1974 (action to be taken in relation to adverse reports), the following subsections shall be substituted for subsections (1) to (2A)—

“(1) This section applies where a Local Commissioner reports that injustice has been caused to a person aggrieved in consequence of maladministration.

(2) The report shall be laid before the authority concerned and it shall be the duty of that authority to consider the report and, within the period of three months beginning with the date on which they received the report, or such longer period as the Local Commissioner may agree in writing, to notify the Local Commissioner of the action which the authority have taken or propose to take.

(2A) If the Local Commissioner—

(a) does not receive the notification required by subsection (2) above within the period allowed by or under that subsection, or

(b) is not satisfied with the action which the authority concerned have taken or propose to take, or

(c) does not within a period of three months beginning with the end of the period so allowed, or such longer period as the Local Commissioner may agree in writing, receive confirmation from the authority concerned that they have taken action, as proposed, to the satisfaction of the Local Commissioner,

he shall make a further report setting out those facts and making recommendations.

(2B) Those recommendations are such recommendations as the Local Commissioner thinks fit to make with respect to action which, in his opinion, the authority concerned should take to remedy the injustice to the person aggrieved and to prevent similar injustice being caused in the future.

(2C) Section 30 above, with any necessary modifications, and subsection (2)above shall apply to a report under subsection (2A) above as they apply to a report under that section.

(2D) If the Local Commissioner—

(a) does not receive the notification required by subsection (2) above as applied by subsection (2C) above within the period allowed by or under that subsection or is satisfied before the period allowed by that subsection has expired that the authority concerned have decided to take no action, or

(b) is not satisfied with the action which the authority concerned have taken or propose to take, or

(c) does not within a period of three months beginning with the end of the period allowed by or under subsection (2) above as applied by subsection (2C) above, or such longer period as the Local Commissioner may agree in writing, receive confirmation from the authority concerned that they have taken action,as proposed, to the satisfaction of the Local Commissioner,

he may, by notice to the authority, require them to arrange for a statement to be published in accordance with subsections (2E) and (2F) below.

(2E) The statement referred to in subsection (2D) above is a statement, in such form as the authority concerned and the Local Commissioner may agree,consisting of—

(a) details of any action recommended by the Local Commissioner in his furtherreport which the authority have not taken;

(b) such supporting material as the Local Commissioner may require; and

(c) if the authority so require, a statement of the reasons for their having taken no action on, or not the action recommended in, the report.

(2F) The requirements for the publication of the statement are that—

(a) publication shall be in any two editions within a fortnight of a newspaper circulating in the area of the authority agreed with the Local Commissioneror, in default of agreement, nominated by him; and

(b) publication in the first such edition shall be arranged for the earliest practicable date.

(2G) If the authority concerned—

(a) fail to arrange for the publication of the statement in accordance with subsections (2E) and (2F) above, or

(b) are unable, within the period of one month beginning with the date on which they received the notice under subsection (2D) above, or such longer period as the Local Commissioner may agree in writing, to agree with the Local Commissioner the form of the statement to be published,

the Local Commissioner shall arrange for such a statement as is mentioned in subsection (2E) above to be published in any two editions within a fortnight of a newspaper circulating within the authority’s area.

(2H) The authority concerned shall reimburse the Commission on demand any reasonable expenses incurred by the Local Commissioner in performing his duty under subsection (2G) above.”

(2) This section shall not have effect in relation to a report made before the coming into force of this section.

27 Implementation of recommendations of Commissioner for Local Administrationin Scotland. E+W+S

(1) In section 29 of the M5 Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975 (action to be taken in relation to adverse reports), the following subsections shall be substituted for subsections (1) to (2A)—

“(1) This section applies where the Commissioner reports that injustice has been caused to a person aggrieved in consequence of maladministration.

[F1 (2) The report shall be laid before the authority concerned and it shall be the duty of that authority to consider the report and, within the period of three months beginning with the date on which they received the report, or such longer period as the Commissioner may agree in writing, to notify the Commissioner of the action which the authority have taken or propose to take.]

(2A) If the Commissioner—

(a) does not receive the notification required by subsection (2) above within the period allowed by or under that subsection, or

(b) is not satisfied with the action which the authority concerned have take nor propose to take, or

(c) does not within a period of three months beginning with the end of the period so allowed, or such longer period as the Commissioner may agree in writing, receive confirmation from the authority concerned that they have taken action, as proposed, to the satisfaction of the Commissioner,

he shall make a further report setting out those facts and making recommendations.

(2B) Those recommendations are such recommendations as the Commissioner thinks fit to make with respect to the action which, in his opinion, the authority concerned should take to remedy the injustice to the person aggrieved and to prevent similar injustice being caused in the future.

(2C) Section 28 of this Act, with any necessary modifications, and subsection (2) above shall apply to a report under subsection (2A) above as they apply to a report under that section.

(2D) If the Commissioner—

(a) does not receive the notification required by subsection (2) above as applied by subsection (2C) above within the period allowed by or under that subsection or is satisfied before the period allowed by that subsection has expired that the authority concerned have decided to take no action; or

(b) is not satisfied with the action which the authority concerned have taken or propose to take; or

(c) does not within a period of three months beginning with the end of the period allowed by or under subsection (2) above as applied by subsection (2C) above, or such longer period as the Commissioner may agree in writing, receive confirmation from the authority concerned that they have taken action, as proposed, to the satisfaction of the Commissioner,

he may, by notice to the authority, require them to arrange for astatement to be published in accordance with subsections (2E) and (2F) below.

(2E) The statement referred to in subsection (2D) above is a statement, in such form as the authority concerned and the Commissioner may agree, consisting of—

(a) details of any action recommended by the Commissioner in his further report which the authority have not taken;

(b) such supporting material as the Commissioner may require; and

(c) if the authority so require, a statement of the reasons for their having taken no action on, or not the action recommended in, the report.

(2F) The requirements for the publication of the statement are that—

(a) publication shall be in any two editions within a fortnight of a newspaper circulating in the area of the authority agreed with the Commissioner or, indefault of agreement, nominated by him; and

(b) publication in the first such edition shall be arranged for the earliest practicable date.

(2G) If the authority concerned—

(a) fail to arrange for the publication of the statement in accordance withsubsections (2E) and (2F) above, or

(b) are unable, within the period of one month beginning with the date on which they received the notice under subsection (2D) above, or such longer period as the Commissioner may agree in writing, to agree with the Commissioner the form of the statement to be published,

the Commissioner shall arrange for such a statement as is mentioned insubsection (2E) above to be published in any two editions within a fortnight of a newspaper circulating within the authority’s area.

(2H) The authority concerned shall reimburse the Commissioner on demand any reasonable expenses incurred by the Commissioner in performing his duty under subsection (2G) above.”

(2) In section 32 of the M6 Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975 (interpretation of provisions about investigations by the Commissioner) the following subsection shall be inserted after subsection (2)—

“(2A) Except in the case of a joint board or joint committee, references in this Part of this Act to the authority concerned are, in relation to action taken by or on behalf of an authority to whom this Part of this Act applies (whether by virtue of subsection (1) or (2) of section 23 of this Act), references to that authority.”

(3) This section shall not have effect in relation to a report made before the coming into force of this section.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 27(2) repealed (S.) (21.5.1997) by 1997 c. 35, ss. 10, 11(2), Sch.

Marginal Citations

M5 1975 c. 30.

M6 1975 c. 30.

28 Consideration of adverse reports: England and Wales. E+W+S

(1) The following section shall be inserted after section 31 of the M7 Local Government Act 1974—

“31A Consideration of adverse reports.

(1) Subject to subsection (3) below, any power of an authority to have their functions discharged by any person or body of persons acting for the authority shall, as respects the consideration of a further report of the Local Commissioner under section 31(2A) above, be subject to the restriction that, if it is proposed that the authority should take no action on, or not the action recommended in, the report, consideration of the report shall be referred to the authority.

(2) Consideration of a further report of the Local Commissioner under section 31(2A) above by any such committee of a local authority as is referred to in an enactment specified in section 101(9) of the Local Government Act 1972 or by any appeal committee constituted in accordance with paragraph 1 of Schedule 2 to the Education Act 1980 shall be subject to a corresponding restriction.

(3) The restriction imposed by subsections (1) and (2) above does not apply where the report recommends action to be taken by—

(a) a joint committee established under the said section 101, or

(b) any committee referred to in an enactment specified in paragraph (c), (d) or (h) of the said section 101(9).

(4) If an authority considering a further report of the Local Commissioner under section 31(2A) above take into consideration a report by a person or body with an interest in the Local Commissioner’s report, they shall not conclude their consideration of the Local Commissioner’s report without also having taken into consideration a report by a person or body with no interest in the Local Commissioner’s report.

(5) No member of an authority to which this Part of this Act applies or of a committee mentioned in subsection (2) or (3) above shall vote on any question with respect to a report or further report under this Part of this Act in which he is named and criticised by a Local Commissioner.

(6) Section 25(4) and (5) above do not apply to this section.”

(2) This section shall not have effect in relation to a report made before the coming into force of section 26 above.

Marginal Citations

M7 1974c. 7.

29 Consideration of adverse reports: Scotland. E+W+S

(1) The following section shall be inserted after section 29 of the M8 Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975—

“29A Consideration of adverse reports.

(1) Subject to subsection (3) below, any power of an authority to have their functions discharged by any person or body of persons acting for the authority shall, as respects the consideration of a further report of the Commissioner under section 29(2A) of this Act, be subject to the restriction that, if it is proposed to take no action on, or not the action recommended in, there port, consideration of the report shall be referred to the authority.

(2) Consideration of a further report of the Commissioner under section 29(2A)of this Act by—

(a) any such committee as is mentioned in section 23(2) of this Act; or

(b) an education committee appointed under section 124 of the Act of 1973;

shall be subject to a corresponding restriction.

(3) The restriction imposed by subsections (1) and (2) above does not apply where the report recommends action to be taken by a joint committee—

(a) established under section 56 of the Act of 1973 or under paragraph 7 of Schedule 10 or paragraph 6 of Schedule 20 to that Act (local authority, education and social work joint committees); or

(b) referred to in paragraph (a), (b), or (e) of section 23(2) of this Act (fire, police and local government and teachers’ superannuation joint committees).

(4) If an authority considering a further report of the Commissioner under section 29(2A) of this Act take into consideration a report by a person or body with an interest in the Commissioner’s report, they shall not conclude their consideration of the Commissioner’s report without also having taken into consideration a report by a person or body with no interest in the Commissioner’s report.

(5) No member of an authority to which this Part of this Act applies or of a committee mentioned in subsection (2) or (3) above shall vote on any question with respect to a report or further report under this Part of this Act in which he is named and criticised by the Commissioner.”

(2) This section shall not have effect in relation to a report made before the coming into force of section 27 above.

Marginal Citations

M8 1975c. 30.

30 Declaration of acceptance of office of councillor etc. E+W+S

(1) Before section 34 of the M9 Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 there shall be inserted the following section—

“ Acceptance of Office E+W+S

33A Declaration of acceptance of office of councillor.

(1) A person elected to office as a councillor of a local authority shall not, unless—

(a) he has made a declaration of acceptance of office in a form prescribed by an order made by the Secretary of State; and

(b) the declaration has within two months from the day of the election been delivered to the proper officer of the local authority,

act in the office except for the purpose of taking such a declaration.

(2) If such a declaration is not made and delivered to the proper officer within the appointed time, the office of the person elected shall at the expiration of that time become vacant.

(3) The declaration shall be made before either—

(a) two members of the local authority to which the declarant is elected; or

(b) the proper officer of the local authority; or

(c) the sheriff; or

(d) a justice of the peace.

(4) Any person before whom a declaration is authorised to be made under this section may take the declaration.”

(2) In section 83 of the M10 Local Government Act 1972 (declaration of acceptance of office) in subsection (1) and subsection (4), for the words “rules under section 42 above” there shall be substituted the words “ an order made by the Secretary of State ”.

Marginal Citations

M9 1973 c. 65.

M10 1972 c. 70.

31 National Code of Local Government Conduct. E+W+S

(1) The Secretary of State, for the guidance of members of local authorities, may issue a code of recommended practice as regards the conduct of members of such authorities to be known as the National Code of Local Government Conduct.

(2) The Secretary of State may revise or withdraw a code issued under this section.

(3) The Secretary of State, before issuing, revising or withdrawing a code, shall consult—

(a) as respects England and Wales, such representatives of local government,and

(b) as respects Scotland, such associations of local authorities,

as appear to him to be appropriate.

(4) A code shall not be issued unless a draft of it has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

(5) Where the Secretary of State proposes to revise a code, he shall lay a draft of the proposed alterations before each House of Parliament and—

(a) he shall not make the revision until after the expiration of the period of 40 days beginning with the day on which the draft is laid (or, if copiesare laid before each House of Parliament on different days, with the later of those days); and

(b) if within that period either House resolves that the alterations be withdrawn, he shall not proceed with the proposed alterations (but without prejudice to the laying of a further draft).

(6) In reckoning any period of 40 days for the purposes of subsection (5) above no account shall be taken of any time during which Parliament is dissolved or prorogued or during which both Houses are adjourned for more than four days.

[F2 (6A) Subsections (4) to (6) above do not apply to a code which applies only to Scotland and such a code shall not be issued unless a draft of it has been laid before and approved by a resolution of the Scottish Parliament.

F2 (6B) Where the Scottish Ministers propose to revise such a code as is mentioned in subsection (6A), they shall lay a draft of the proposed alterations before the Scottish Parliament and–

(a) they shall not make the revision until after the expiration of the period of 40 days beginning with the day on which the draft is laid; and

(b) if within that period the Parliament resolves that the alterations be withdrawn, they shall not proceed with the proposed alterations (but without prejudice to the laying of a further draft).

F2 (6C) In reckoning any period of 40 days for the purposes of subsection (6B) above no account shall be taken of any time during which the Parliament is dissolved or is in recess for more than 4 days.]

(7) The form of declaration of acceptance of office under section 83 of the M11 Local Government Act 1972 or section 33A of the M12 Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 may include an undertaking by the declarant to be guided by the National Code of Local Government Conduct in the performance of his functions.

(8) In this section—

• “local authority” means—

(a) as respects England and Wales, a county council [F3 a county borough council,], a district council, a London borough council, a parish council, a community council, the Common Council of the City of London or the Council of the Isles of Scilly;

(b) as respects Scotland, a [F4 council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994] or a joint board or joint committee within the meaning of section 235(1) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973; and

“member”, in relation to a local authority, includes any person who, whether or not a member of the authority, is a member of a committee or sub-committee of the authority or of any joint committee of theirs.

Textual Amendments

F2 S. 31(6A)-(6C) inserted (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1820, arts. 1(2), 4, Sch. para. 97 (with art. 5); S.I. 1998/3178, art. 3

F3 S. 31(8): words in para. (a) of the definition of “local authority" inserted (7.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/3071, art. 2, Sch. para. 3(4)

F4 S. 31(8): words in para. (b) of the definition of “local authority” substituted (S.) (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13 para. 161(1)(9); S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(c)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 31 applied (S.) (temp.) (6.4.1995 to 1.4.1996) by S.I. 1995/789, art. 2, Sch. para. 11

S. 31 applied (temp.) (4.5.1995 to 31.3.1996) by S.I. 1995/1042, art. 4(1)

S. 31 extended (E.W.) (19.9.1995) by 1995 c. 25, ss. 63(5), 125(2), Sch. 7 para. 9 (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117, Sch. 8 para. 7)

S. 31 excluded (E.) (temp.) (27.11.2001 to 27.7.2002) by S.I. 2001/3576, art. 3(1)(c)

Marginal Citations

M11 1972 c. 70.

M12 1973 c. 65.

32 Anonymity in reports on investigations. E+W+S

(1) In section 30 of the M13 Local Government Act 1974 (reports on investigations by Local Commissioners)—

(a) in subsection (3) (report only to identify a person if the Local Commissioner thinks it necessary), after the words “shall not” there shall be inserted the words “, except where subsection (3A) below applies,”; and

(b) the following subsection shall be inserted after subsection (3)—

“(3A) Where the Local Commissioner is of the opinion—

(a) that action constituting maladministration was taken which involved amember of the authority concerned, and

(b) that the member’s conduct constituted a breach of the National Code of Local Government Conduct,

then, unless the Local Commissioner is satisfied that it would be unjust to do so, the report shall name the member and give particulars of the breach.”

(2) In section 28 of the M14 Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975 (reports on investigations by Commissioner)—

(a) in subsection (3) (report only to identify a person if the Commissioner thinks it necessary), after the words “shall not” there shall be inserted the words “, except where subsection (3A) below applies,”; and

(b) the following subsection shall be inserted after subsection (3)—

“(3A) Where the Commissioner is of the opinion—

(a) that action constituting maladministration was taken which involved a member of the authority concerned, and

(b) that the member’s conduct constituted a breach of the National Code of Local Government Conduct,

then, unless the Commissioner is satisfied that it would be unjust to do so, the report shall name the member and give particulars of the breach.”

Marginal Citations

M13 1974 c. 7.

M14 1975 c. 30.