53 Records held by local authorities.S
(1)A local authority shall, in accordance with the provisions of this section, make proper arrangements for the preservation and management of any records which have been—
(a)transferred to and vested in them by virtue of an order under section 15 of this Act;
(b)created or acquired by them in the exercise of any of their functions; or
(c)otherwise placed in their custody,
and shall, before putting any such arrangements into effect, or making any material change to such arrangements, consult the Keeper of the Records of Scotland, and have regard to any comments which he may make on the proposed arrangements or changes.
(2)A local authority may dispose of any records which they do not consider to be worthy of preservation.
(3)Before entering into any arrangements to which section 58 of this Act or section 56 of the 1973 Act (arrangements for discharge of functions by local authorities) applies with regard to the preservation and management of any records, a local authority shall consult the Keeper.
(4)Where a local authority hold records relating to the property or functions of any other local authority, that other authority shall, subject to any arrangements made under section 58 of this Act or section 56 of the 1973 Act by the two authorities—
(a)be entitled to free access to, and copies of, any such records; and
(b)pay to the local authority holding the records such proportion of the costs incurred by that authority in preserving and managing the records—
(i)as the authorities may agree; or
(ii)as may, failing such agreement, be determined by the Secretary of State.
(5)The Keeper shall be entitled to free access to any records held by a local authority.
(6)For the purposes of this section and section 54 of this Act “records” includes charters, deeds, minutes, accounts and other documents, and any other records, of whatever form and in whatever medium, which convey information, but does not include records which are the property of the Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages for Scotland.