Government of Wales Act 1998

113 Relations with local government

(1) The Assembly shall make a scheme (referred to in this Act as the local government scheme) setting out how the Assembly proposes, in the exercise of its functions, to sustain and promote local government in Wales.

(2) The Assembly shall establish and maintain a body to be known as the Partnership Council for Wales or Cyngor Partneriaeth Cymru (but referred to in this Act as the Partnership Council).

(3) The Partnership Council shall consist of Assembly members and members of local authorities in Wales.

(4) The Partnership Council may—

(a) give advice to the Assembly about matters affecting the exercise of any of the Assembly’s functions,

(b) make representations to the Assembly about any matters affecting, or of concern to, those involved in local government in Wales, and

(c) give advice to those involved in local government in Wales.

(5) In determining at any time the provision to be included in the local government scheme the Assembly shall have regard to any advice which has been given, and to any representations which have been made, to the Assembly by the Partnership Council.

(6) Schedule 11 (which makes provision supplementing this section) has effect.

(7) For the purposes of subsection (3) and that Schedule the following are local authorities in Wales—

(a) county councils, county borough councils and community councils in Wales,

(b) National Park authorities for National Parks in Wales,

(c) police authorities for police areas in Wales,

(d) fire authorities for combined areas in Wales, and

(e) authorities of any description specified for the purposes of this paragraph by order made by the Assembly.

(8) No order shall be made under subsection (7)(e) unless the Assembly has consulted the Partnership Council.