Local Government Act 1999

[F1 Duties: general] E+W

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 3 heading substituted (1.4.2008) by Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (c. 28), s. 245(5), Sch. 8 para. 5; S.I. 2008/917, art. 2(1)(e)

3 The general duty. E+W

(1) A best value authority must make arrangements to secure continuous improvement in the way in which its functions are exercised, having regard to a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness.

(2) For the purpose of deciding how to fulfil the duty arising under subsection (1) an authority must consult—

(a) representatives of persons liable to pay any tax, precept or levy to or in respect of the authority,

(b) representatives of persons liable to pay non-domestic rates in respect of any area within which the authority carries out functions,

(c) representatives of persons who use or are likely to use services provided by the authority, and

(d) representatives of persons appearing to the authority to have an interest in any area within which the authority carries out functions.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2) “representatives” in relation to a group of persons means persons who appear to the authority to be representative of that group.

[F2 (4) In deciding—

(a) how to fulfil the duty arising under subsection (1),

(b) who to consult under subsection (2), or

(c) the form, content and timing of consultations under that subsection,

an authority must have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.]

Textual Amendments

F2 S. 3(4) substituted (1.4.2008) by Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (c. 28), ss. 137, 245(5); S.I. 2008/591, art. 2(a); S.I. 2008/917, art. 2(1)(b)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 3 wholly in force at 1.4.2000; s. 3 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 27 ; s. 3(2)-(4) in force (E.) at 10.8.1999 and (W.) for certain purposes at 10.8.1999 by S.I. 1999/2169, art. 2(2), Sch. 1; s. 3(1) in force (E.) at 1.4.2000 and (W.) for certain purposes at 1.4.2000 by S.I. 1999/2169, art. 4(2), Sch. 3; s. 3(2)-(4) in force (W.) at 1.10.1999 by S.I. 1999/2815, art. 2; s. 3(1) in force (W.) at 1.4.2000 by S.I. 1999/2815, art. 3

[F3 3A Involvement of local representatives E+W

(1) Where a best value authority considers it appropriate for representatives of local persons (or of local persons of a particular description) to be involved in the exercise of any of its functions by being—

(a) provided with information about the exercise of the function,

(b) consulted about the exercise of the function, or

(c) involved in another way,

it must take such steps as it considers appropriate to secure that such representatives are involved in the exercise of the function in that way.

(2) Subsection (1) does not require an authority to take a step—

(a) if the authority does not have power to take the step under another enactment or a rule of law; or

(b) if the step would be incompatible with a Community obligation or any other duty imposed on the authority under another enactment or a rule of law.

(3) Subsection (1) does not apply—

[F4 (a) the Common Council of the City of London in its capacity as a police authority;]

F5 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(c) to any other authority or description of authority specified in an order made by the Secretary of State, or

(d) in any other case specified in such an order.

(4) An order under subsection (3)(d) may specify cases by reference, in particular, to the following—

(a) best value authorities or descriptions of best value authority;

(b) functions of best value authorities;

(c) descriptions of local person;

(d) ways in which representatives may be involved in the exercise of functions of an authority.

(5) In deciding how to fulfil its duties under subsection (1), an authority must have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.

(6) In this section—

• “enactment” includes subordinate legislation (within the meaning of section 21 of the Interpretation Act 1978);

• “local person” means, in relation to a function of a best value authority, a person who is likely to be affected by, or interested in, the exercise of the function;

• “representative” means, in relation to local persons or a description of local person, a person who appears to the best value authority to be representative of the local persons.]

Textual Amendments

F3 S. 3A inserted (1.4.2009) by Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (c. 28), ss. 138(1), 245(5); S.I. 2008/917, art. 3(a)

F4 S. 3A(3)(a) substituted (22.11.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 243; S.I. 2012/2892, art. 2(i)

F5 S. 3A(3)(b) repealed (1.4.2010) by Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009 (nawm 2), s. 53(2), Sch. 1 para. 12, Sch. 4; S.I. 2009/3272, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 (with art. 3(2)-(5)) (as amended (8.9.2010) by S.I. 2010/2237, art. 2)