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143Grants to promote or facilitate exercise of functions by best value authorities
(1)In the Local Government Act 2003 (c. 26), after section 36 insert—
“36AGrants by Ministers of the Crown in respect of best value authorities etc
(1)A Minister of the Crown may pay a grant to a person for use in, or in connection with, promoting or facilitating the economic, efficient and effective exercise of functions by a best value authority or best value authorities.
(2)The power to make a grant under this section is exercisable only with the consent of—
(a)the Treasury, and
(b)in the case of a grant in respect of the exercise of functions by a Welsh best value authority, the Welsh Ministers.
(3)The power to pay a grant under this section does not include power to pay a grant to a best value authority.
(4)The amount of a grant under this section, and the method of payment, are to be such as the Minister of the Crown may determine.
(5)A grant under this section may be paid on such conditions as the Minister of the Crown may determine.
(6)Conditions under subsection (5) may, in particular, include—
(a)provision as to the use of the grant;
(b)provision as to circumstances in which the whole or part of the grant must be repaid.
(7)For the purposes of this section—
“best value authority” includes the Greater London Authority, whether exercising its functions through the Mayor or otherwise;
“Minister of the Crown” has the same meaning as in the Ministers of the Crown Act 1975;
“Welsh best value authority” means an authority which is a Welsh best value authority for the purposes of Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1999.
36BGrants by Welsh Ministers in respect of Welsh best value authorities
(1)The Welsh Ministers may pay a grant to a person for use in, or in connection with, promoting or facilitating the economic, efficient and effective exercise of functions by a Welsh best value authority or Welsh best value authorities.
(2)The power to pay a grant under this section does not include power to pay a grant to a best value authority.
(3)The amount of a grant under this section, and the method of payment, are to be such as the Welsh Ministers may determine.
(4)A grant under this section may be paid on such conditions as the Welsh Ministers may determine.
(5)Conditions under subsection (4) may, in particular, include—
(a)provision as to the use of the grant;
(b)provision as to circumstances in which the whole or part of the grant must be repaid.
(6)For the purposes of this section—
“best value authority” includes the Greater London Authority, whether exercising its functions through the Mayor or otherwise;
“Welsh best value authority” means an authority which is a Welsh best value authority for the purposes of Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1999.”
(2)Until the commencement of section 144(1), the provisions inserted by this section have effect as if—
(a)the definition of “Welsh best value authority” were omitted; and
(b)references to a Welsh best value authority were references to an authority which is a best value authority in Wales for the purposes of Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1999 (c. 27), other than a police authority for a police area in Wales.
144Best value: minor and consequential amendments
(1)In section 1 of the Local Government Act 1999 (best value authorities), in subsection (6) (best value authorities in Wales)—
(a)for “best value authority in Wales” substitute “Welsh best value authority”;
(b)omit paragraph (c) (police authority).
(2)Schedule 8 (minor and consequential amendments) has effect.