23Amend the Local Government Act 2003 as follows.
24In section 36(1) (grants in connection with designation for service excellence), after “(best value duty)” insert “or to a Welsh improvement authority within the meaning of section 1 of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009”.
25In section 36A (grants by Ministers of the Crown in respect of best value authorities etc)—
(a)in subsection (1) after “best value authorities” insert “or a Welsh improvement authority or Welsh improvement authorities”;
(b)in subsection (2)(b) for the words “Welsh best value authority” substitute “Welsh improvement authority”;
(c)in subsection (3) insert at the end “or a Welsh improvement authority”;
(d)in subsection (7) for the words “Welsh best value authority” to the end of the subsection substitute—
““Welsh improvement authority” means an authority which is a Welsh improvement authority within the meaning of section 1 of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009.”.
26In section 36B (grants by Welsh Ministers in respect of Welsh best value authorities)—
(a)in subsection (1) from the words “the economic” to the end of the subsection substitute “compliance by a Welsh improvement authority or Welsh improvement authorities with the requirements of Part 1 of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009”;
(b)in subsection (2) after “best value authority” insert “or Welsh improvement authority”;
(c)in subsection (6) for the words “Welsh best value authority” to the end of the subsection substitute—
““Welsh improvement authority” means an authority which is a Welsh improvement authority within the meaning of section 1 of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009.”.
27In section 93(9) (power to charge for discretionary services) after paragraph (a) insert—
“(aa)a Welsh improvement authority;”.
28In section 95(7) (power to trade in function-related activities through a company), in the definition of “relevant authority” after paragraph (a) insert—
“(aa)a Welsh improvement authority;”.
29In section 97(11) (power to modify enactments in connection with charging or trading), in the definition of “relevant authority” after paragraph (a) insert—
“(aa)a Welsh improvement authority;”.
30In section 101 (staff transfer matters: general)—
(a)after subsection (5) insert—
“(5A)The duties under Part 1 of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009 (local government improvement) have effect subject to subsections (1) and (3).”;
(b)in subsection (7A) after paragraph (a) insert—
“(aa)a Welsh improvement authority;”.
31In section 124 (general interpretation) after the definition of “valuation tribunal” insert—
““Welsh improvement authority” means an authority which is a Welsh improvement authority within the meaning of section 1 of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009.”.
32Amend section 24 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 (best value) as follows.
33After subsection (2) insert the following—
“(3)Subsection (1) does not apply to a fire and rescue authority in Wales.
(4)Sections 21, 22, 26 and 27 of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009 apply in relation to a fire and rescue authority in Wales' compliance with section 21(7) as they apply in relation to a Welsh improvement authority’s compliance with the requirements of Part 1 of that Measure.
(5)As applied by subsection (4), those sections have effect as if—
(a)in section 21(1), paragraphs (a) and (b) and the word “if” preceding paragraph (a) were omitted;
(b)sections 21(2)(b), (3), (5), (8) and (10) and 22(4) were omitted;
(c)in section 22(1), for the words “a special inspection” there were substituted “an inspection under section 21”;
(d)in section 22(2)(b), for the words “do either or both of the following” to the end there were substituted “make an order under section 22 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004”;
(e)in section 26(11), the words “or an inspection under section 21 as applied by section 24(4) of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004” were inserted at the end;
(f)in section 27(1), the words “or inspections under section 21 as applied by section 24(4) of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004” were inserted at the end.”.
34Amend the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004 as follows.
35In section 41(1) (studies for improving economy etc in services) at the end of paragraph (a) insert—
“or Welsh improvement authorities for the purposes of Part 1 of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009”.
36In section 54 (restriction on disclosure of information)—
(a)in subsection (1)(a) after the words “the Local Government Act 1999 (c. 27)” insert “or Part 1 of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009”;
(b)in subsection (1)(b)—
(i)after the word “study” insert “assessment”;
(ii)at the end insert “or Part 1 of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009”.
(c)in subsection (2)(b) after the words “the Local Government Act 1999 (c. 27)” insert “or Part 1 of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009”.