The Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral Combined Authority Order 2014

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This order establishes the Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral Combined Authority.

Part 6 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (“the 2009 Act”) provides for the establishment of combined authorities for the areas of two or more local authorities in England. Combined authorities are bodies corporate which may be given power to exercise functions relating to transport and to economic development and regeneration in their area.

The Secretary of State may only establish a combined authority for an area where a scheme for such an authority has been published under section 109 of the 2009 Act. This order has been made following the publication of such a scheme on 30th September 2013 by the constituent councils whose areas together make up the combined area of the new authority. The scheme is available at: www.knowsley.gov.uk/governancereview.

Part 2 of the Order establishes the new authority, to be known as the Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral Combined Authority and makes provision for its constitution and funding.

Article 4 of and Schedule 1 to the Order make provision for the constitution of the Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral Combined Authority. This is supplemental to the provision that is made by Part 1A of Schedule 12 to the Local Government Act 1972 (see paragraph (6A) of that Schedule, as amended by the 2009 Act).

Article 5 makes provision for the funding, by the constituent councils, of those costs of the Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral Combined Authority that relate to the exercise of its economic development and regeneration functions.

Part 3 concerns the transport functions of the combined authority. Article 6 dissolves the Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority, abolishes its area and transfers its functions to the Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral Combined Authority. Contracts of employment are transferred to the Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive. Article 7 makes general adaptations to primary and subordinate legislation, so that references to an integrated transport authority or area are to be treated as extending to the combined authority and its area. Article 8 transfers to the combined authority the functions of Halton Council under Parts 4 and 5 of the Transport Act 1985 and provides for the submission of proposals for, and the making of, a scheme for the transfer of property, rights and liabilities held, acquired or incurred by that council for the purposes of those functions. Article 9 makes general amendments to primary and secondary legislation affected by the transfer of functions under article 8. Article 10 makes the Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive an executive body of the combined authority and changes its name to Merseytravel. Article 11 provides for other transport functions to be exercisable by the Combined Authority and Article 12 provides for continuity when functions, property, rights and liabilities are transferred under Part 3 of this Order.

Part 4 confers additional functions on the Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral Authority. Article 13 confers functions of the constituent councils relating to economic development and regeneration. These are set out in Schedule 2 to the Order and are to be exercised concurrently with the constituent councils. Articles 14 to 16 make some general, incidental provisions relating to the Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral Combined Authority to enable it to carry out its functions more effectively.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been prepared as this instrument will have no impact on the costs of business and the voluntary sector.