2.—(1) The following descriptions of expenditure of responsible authorities in pursuance of their functions under Part VI of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997 shall be taken not to be capital expenditure for the following purposes:

(a) for the purposes of sections 55(3), 55(7) and 57 of that Act, expenditure incurred by a paying authority in relation to a Libra contract;

(b) for the purposes of sections 55(7) and 57 of that Act, expenditure incurred by a paying authority under a private finance transaction to procure the use of serviced accommodation.

(2) In paragraph (1)–

(a) “private finance transaction” has the meaning given in regulation 16(2) of the Local Authorities (Capital Finance) Regulations 1997(1); and

(b) “serviced accommodation” means the petty sessional court-houses and other accommodation proper for the performance of the functions described in section 55(1) of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997 and services provided in relation to the use of such court-houses and accommodation.

(c) “Libra contract” means any contract entered into by a magistrates' court committee within the framework of the main agreement, known as the Libra agreement, entered into by the Lord Chancellor’s Department for the provision of information system services to magistrates' courts.

(1)

S.I. 1997/319.