1Local planning authorities
(1)Subject to the provisions of this section, the council of a county is the local planning authority for the county, and the council of a county borough is the local planning authority for the county borough
(2)If it appears to the Secretary of State that it is expedient that a joint board should be established as the local planning authority for the areas of any two or more such councils as are mentioned in subsection (1) of this section, or for any parts of those areas, he may by order constitute those areas or parts as a united district for the purposes of this Act, and constitute a joint board (in this Act referred to as a " joint planning board ") as the local planning authority for that district:
Provided that the Secretary of State shall not make such an order except after holding a local inquiry unless all the councils concerned have consented to the making of the order.
(3)The provisions of Schedule 1 to this Act shall have effect with respect to the constitution of joint planning boards.
(4)Where a joint planning board is constituted for a united district, references in this Act to the area of a local planning authority—
(a)in relation to the board, shall be construed as references to that district; and
(b)in relation to any local planning authority being the council of a county or county borough of which part (but not the whole) is included in that district, shall be construed as references to so much of the county or county borough as is not so included.
(5)Regulations under this Act may make such provision consequential upon or supplementary to the provisions of this section as appears to the Secretary of State to be necessary or expedient.
(6)The preceding provisions of this section, and the provisions of Schedule 1 to this Act, shall have effect subject to the provisions of section 8 of the [1949 c. 97.] National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 (administration of functions of local planning authorities in respect of National Parks).