Greater London Authority Act 1999

Chapter V E+W+S Financial Administration, Accounts and Audit

Financial administration E+W+S

127 Proper financial administration and chief finance officer. E+W+S

(1) In this section relevant authority means—

(a) the Authority; or

(b) a functional body.

(2) Every relevant authority—

(a) shall make arrangements for the proper administration of its financial affairs; and

(b) shall secure that one of its officers (its chief finance officer) has responsibility for the administration of those affairs.

(3) No person may be the chief finance officer of two or more relevant authorities at the same time.

(4) In subsection (2)(b) above, the reference to officers includes a reference to employees or members of staff and, in the case of Transport for London[F1 , includes a reference to its members.]

[F2 (5) Section 127A below makes further provision with respect to the Authority's chief finance officer for the purposes of subsection (2)(b) above.]

(6) The function of appointing the Authority’s chief finance officer under subsection (2)(b) above shall be a function of the Authority which is exercisable on behalf of the Authority by the Assembly after consultation with the Mayor.

(7) If the Mayor is a member of Transport for London, he must not be its chief finance officer.

(8) In section 2 of the M1 Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (politically restricted posts) in subsection (6)(d) (the effect of which is that the chief finance officer appointed under certain provisions is included among the chief statutory officers for the purposes of that section) after section 112 of the M2 Local Government Finance Act 1988 there shall be inserted “ , section 127(2) of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 ”.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 127(4) substituted (31.3.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 20 para. 6; S.I. 2012/628, art. 4(c)

F2 S. 127(5) substituted for s. 127(5)(6) (E.W.) (21.1.2008) by Greater London Authority Act 2007 (c. 24), ss. 10(1), 59(7) (with s. 10(3)-(5)); S.I. 2008/113, art. 2(a)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 127(2) applied (10.5.2000) by S.I. 2000/1095, art. 6(5)(c)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 127 wholly in force at 3.7.2000; s. 127 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 425(2); s. 127 in force for specified purposes at 8.5.2000 by S.I. 1999/3434, art. 3; s. 127 in force at 3.7.2000 insofar as not already in force by S.I. 1999/3434, art. 4

Marginal Citations

M1 1989 c. 42.

M2 1988 c. 41.

[F3 127A Chief finance officer of the Authority E+W

(1) The Mayor and the Assembly, acting jointly, shall appoint a person to be the chief finance officer of the Authority.

(2) Any appointment under subsection (1) above is an appointment as an employee of the Authority and—

(a) section 7 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (staff to be appointed on merit) shall apply in relation to any such appointment as if the Authority were a local authority;

(b) section 8 of that Act (duty to adopt standing orders with respect to staff) shall apply in relation to a person appointed under subsection (1) above as if the Authority were a relevant authority.

(3) The terms and conditions of employment of the person appointed under subsection (1) above (including conditions as to remuneration) are to be such as the Mayor and the Assembly acting jointly think fit.

(4) A person must not at the same time be both—

(a) the Authority's chief finance officer appointed under subsection (1) above, and

(b) a member of staff appointed under section 67(1) above.]

Textual Amendments

F3 S. 127A inserted (E.W.) (21.1.2008) by Greater London Authority Act 2007 (c. 24), ss. 10(2), 59(7) (with s. 10(3)-(5)); S.I. 2008/113, art. 2(a)

128 Application of Part VIII of Local Government Finance Act 1988. E+W+S

(1) Section 111 of the M3 Local Government Finance Act 1988 (interpretation of Part VIII (financial administration)) shall be amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (2) (which specifies the bodies which are relevant authorities for the purposes of Part VIII) after paragraph (b) there shall be inserted—

“(bb) the Greater London Authority;

(bc) a functional body, within the meaning of the 1999 Act;

(bd) the London Pensions Fund Authority;”.

(3) In subsection (3) (meaning of 1972 Act etc) at the end there shall be added and the 1999 Act is the Greater London Authority Act 1999.

Commencement Information

I2 S. 128 wholly in force at 3.7.2000; s. 128 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 425(2); s. 128 in force for specified purposes at 8.5.2000 by S.I. 1999/3434, art. 3; s. 128 in force at 3.7.2000 insofar as not already in force by S.I. 1999/3434, art. 4

Marginal Citations

M3 1988 c. 41.

129 Qualifications of chief finance officer. E+W+S

In section 113(1) of the M4 Local Government Finance Act 1988 (requirements to be fulfilled by person having responsibility for administration of financial affairs under certain provisions) after section 73 of the 1985 Act there shall be inserted “ , section 127 of the 1999 Act ”.

Commencement Information

I3 S. 129 wholly in force at 3.7.2000; s. 129 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 425(2); s. 129 in force for specified purposes at 8.5.2000 by S.I. 1999/3434, art. 3; s. 129 in force at 3.7.2000 insofar as not already in force by S.I. 1999/3434, art. 4

Marginal Citations

M4 1988 c. 41.

130 Functions of chief finance officer as regards reports. E+W+S

(1) Section 114 of the M5 Local Government Finance Act 1988 (functions of responsible officer as regards reports) shall be amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1) (person having responsibility for administration of financial affairs under certain provisions to have functions as regards reports) after section 73 of the 1985 Act there shall be inserted “ , section 127 of the 1999 Act ”.

(3) After subsection (3A) (preparation of report: duty to consult head of paid service and monitoring officer) there shall be inserted—

“(3B) Subsection (3A) above shall have effect in relation to the London Development Agency with the substitution for paragraphs (a) and (b) of the words with the person who is for the time being appointed under paragraph 4(2) of Schedule 2 to the M6 Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 as the chief executive of the London Development Agency.

(3C) Subsection (3A) above shall have effect in relation to Transport for London with the substitution for paragraphs (a) and (b) of the words with the person who is for the time being designated for the purpose under subsection (3D) below.

(3D) Transport for London shall designate a member of Transport for London, or a member of the staff of Transport for London, as the person who is to be consulted under subsection (3A) above.”

(4) After subsection (4) (duty to send copy of report to each member of the authority etc) there shall be inserted—

“(4A) The duty under subsection (4)(b) above—

(a) in a case where the relevant authority is the Greater London Authority, is to send a copy of the report to the Mayor of London and to each member of the London Assembly; and

(b) in a case where the relevant authority is a functional body, within the meaning of the 1999 Act, includes a duty to send a copy of the report to the Mayor of London and to the Chair of the Assembly, within the meaning of that Act.”

Commencement Information

I4 S. 130 wholly in force at 3.7.2000; s. 130 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 425(2); s. 130 in force for specified purposes at 8.5.2000 by S.I. 1999/3434, art. 3; s. 130 in force at 3.7.2000 insofar as not already in force by S.I. 1999/3434, art. 4

Marginal Citations

M5 1988 c. 41.

M6 1998 c. 45.

131 Duties of Authority or functional body as regards reports. E+W+S

(1) Section 115 of the M7 Local Government Finance Act 1988 (authority’s duties as regards reports) shall be amended as follows.

(2) After subsection (1) there shall be inserted—

“(1A) Where the report under section 114 above is a report by the chief finance officer of the Greater London Authority, section 115A below shall have effect in place of subsections (2) and (3) below.”

(3) After subsection (3) there shall be inserted—

“(3A) In the case of the London Development Agency or Transport for London, Part VA of the 1972 Act (access to meetings etc) shall have effect in relation to the meeting as if that authority were a principal council.”

(4) After subsection (4) (which prevents delegation under section 101(2) of the M8 Local Government Act 1972) there shall be inserted—

“(4A) In the case of the London Development Agency or Transport for London, neither—

(a) paragraph 7 of Schedule 2 to the M9 Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 (delegation by London Development Agency etc), nor

(b) paragraph 7 of Schedule 10 to the 1999 Act (delegation by Transport for London),

shall apply to the duty under subsection (2) above.”

(5) After subsection (9) (the prohibition period) there shall be inserted—

“(9A) In the application of this section where the report under section 114 above is a report by the chief finance officer of the Greater London Authority, subsection (9) above shall have effect with the substitution for paragraph (b) of—

“(b) ending with the first business day to fall after the day (if any) on which the Mayor makes the decisions under section 115A(6) below ”.”

(6) In subsection (10) (immaterial for subsection (9)(b) that subsection (3) is not complied with) after subsection (3) above there shall be inserted “ , or, where section 115A below applies, subsection (4) or (8) of that section, ”.

(7) In subsection (11) (nature of decisions at meeting immaterial for subsection (9)(b)) after decisions made at the meeting there shall be inserted “ , or, where section 115A below applies, by the Mayor under subsection (6) of that section, ”.

(8) After subsection (12) there shall be added—

“(13) In the application of this section in relation to the Greater London Authority, the references to the authority in subsections (5) to (12) above shall be taken as references to the Greater London Authority whether acting by the Mayor, the Assembly or the Mayor and Assembly acting jointly.

(14) In this section—

• the Assembly means the London Assembly;

• the Mayor means the Mayor of London.”

(9) After section 115 of the M10 Local Government Finance Act 1988 there shall be inserted—

“115A Duties of Mayor of London and London Assembly as regards reports.

(1) This section applies where copies of a report under section 114 above by the chief finance officer of the Greater London Authority have been sent under section 114(4) above.

(2) The Mayor shall consider the report preparatory to making the decisions under subsection (6) below.

(3) The Assembly shall consider the report at a meeting where it shall decide—

(a) whether it agrees or disagrees with the views contained in the report; and

(b) what action (if any) it recommends that the Mayor should take in consequence of it.

(4) The meeting must be held not later than the end of the period of 21 days beginning with the day on which the copies of the report are sent.

(5) The Mayor must attend the meeting.

(6) After the meeting, the Mayor shall decide—

(a) whether he agrees or disagrees with the views contained in the report; and

(b) what action (if any) he proposes to take in consequence of it.

(7) In making any decision under subsection (6) above, the Mayor shall take account of any views or recommendations of the Assembly at the meeting.

(8) The Mayor must make the decisions under subsection (6) above before the end of the period of 14 days beginning with the day on which the meeting of the Assembly concludes.

(9) Any functions of the Mayor under this section must be exercised by the Mayor personally.

(10) Section 54 of the 1999 Act (discharge of Assembly functions by committees etc) shall not apply in relation to any function of the Assembly under this section.

(11) In this section—

• the Assembly means the London Assembly;

• the Mayor means the Mayor of London.”

Commencement Information

I5 S. 131 wholly in force at 3.7.2000; s. 131 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 425(2); s. 131 in force for specified purposes at 8.5.2000 by S.I. 1999/3434, art. 3; s. 131 in force at 3.7.2000 insofar as not already in force by S.I. 1999/3434, art. 4

Marginal Citations

M7 1988 c. 41.

M8 1972 c. 70.

M9 1998 c. 45.

M10 1988 c. 41.

132 Monitoring officer not to be chief finance officer etc. E+W+S

(1) Section 5 of the M11 Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (designation and reports of monitoring officer) shall be amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (8) (interpretation) in the M12 definition of chief finance officerafter Local Government Finance Act 1988 there shall be inserted “ , section 127(2) of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 ”.

Commencement Information

I6 S. 132 wholly in force at 3.7.2000; s. 132 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 425(2); s. 132 in force for specified purposes at 8.5.2000 by S.I. 1999/3434, art. 3; s. 132 in force at 3.7.2000 insofar as not already in force by S.I. 1999/3434, art. 4

Marginal Citations

M11 1989 c. 42.

M12 1988 c. 41.

Accounts and audit E+W+S

F4 133 Application of the Audit Commission Act 1998. E+W+S

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Textual Amendments

F4 S. 133 repealed (1.4.2015) by Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (c. 2), s. 49(1), Sch. 1 Pt. 2; S.I. 2015/841, art. 3(a) (with arts. 5-8, Sch.) (as amended (27.6.2016) by S.I. 2016/675, art. 2)

134 Summary statement of accounts of Authority and other bodies. E+W+S

(1) For each financial year the Authority shall prepare a summary statement of accounts.

(2) The summary statement of accounts shall be in respect of the Authority, the functional bodies and the London Pensions Fund Authority.

(3) Subsection (1) above is without prejudice to any other duty of the Authority, a functional body or the London Pensions Fund Authority to prepare accounts or statements of accounts.

(4) [F5 Section 25 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (inspection of statements of accounts etc)] shall apply in relation to a summary statement of accounts required to be prepared under this section as it applies in relation to a statement of accounts prepared by the Authority under [F6 section 3(3)] of that Act.

(5) [F7 Sections 26 to 31 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014, and Schedule 8 to that Act] (public inspection etc and action by the auditor, and prevention of unlawful expenditure) shall not apply in relation to a summary statement of accounts required to be prepared under this section.

(6) [F8 Section 32 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014] (accounts and audit regulations) shall apply in relation to a summary statement of accounts required to be prepared under this section as it applies in relation to F9 ... statements of accounts.

Textual Amendments

F5 Words in s. 134(4) substituted (1.4.2015) by Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (c. 2), s. 49(1), Sch. 12 para. 43(2)(a); S.I. 2015/841, art. 3(x)

F6 Words in s. 134(4) substituted (1.4.2015) by Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (c. 2), s. 49(1), Sch. 12 para. 43(2)(b); S.I. 2015/841, art. 3(x)

F7 Words in s. 134(5) substituted (1.4.2015) by Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (c. 2), s. 49(1), Sch. 12 para. 43(3); S.I. 2015/841, art. 3(x)

F8 Words in s. 134(6) substituted (12.2.2015 for specified purposes, 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force) by Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (c. 2), s. 49(1), Sch. 12 para. 43(4)(a); S.I. 2015/223, art. 2; S.I. 2015/841, art. 3(x)

F9 Words in s. 134(6) omitted (12.2.2015 for specified purposes, 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force) by virtue of Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (c. 2), s. 49(1), Sch. 12 para. 43(4)(b); S.I. 2015/223, art. 2; S.I. 2015/841, art. 3(x)

135 Information for purposes of section 134. E+W+S

(1) A body to which this section applies shall, at the request of the Mayor, provide the Authority with such information relating to any accounts or statement of accounts of the body as may be specified or described in the request.

(2) The bodies to which this section applies are—

(a) each of the functional bodies; and

(b) the London Pensions Fund Authority.

(3) The information shall be provided in such form and manner, and within such time, as may be specified in the request.

(4) The information that may be requested under subsection (1) above is such information as may be required for the purpose of discharging the functions of the Authority under or by virtue of section 134 above.