Part 3Grants etc

Chapter 2Other grants etc

I1I239Payments towards local authority indebtedness

1

The Secretary of State may, if he thinks it appropriate, make payments to a local authority in England for application by the authority in reducing or extinguishing such debt (whether then due or not) of the authority as he thinks fit.

2

The National Assembly for Wales may, if it thinks it appropriate, make payments to a local authority in Wales for application by the authority in reducing or extinguishing such debt (whether then due or not) of the authority as the Assembly thinks fit.

3

The person making payments to a local authority under this section may specify how the payments are to be applied by the authority and may in particular specify—

a

the debt or debts to be extinguished, or

b

the debt or debts to be reduced.

4

A payment under this section may be made subject to conditions imposed by the person making the payment.

5

The conditions that may be imposed under subsection (4) include (in particular) conditions relating to the repayment in specified circumstances of all or part of the payment.

6

Payments made to a local authority under this section may not be applied in reducing or extinguishing any debt of the authority to the Public Works Loan Commissioners.

7

In this section “local authority” means—

a

in relation to England—

i

a district council,

ii

a county council that is the council for a county in which there are no district councils,

iii

a London borough council,

iv

the Common Council of the City of London, or

v

the Council of the Isles of Scilly; and

b

in relation to Wales, a county council or a county borough council.