Local Government Act 1972

Part VIE+W Discharge of Functions

101 Arrangements for discharge of functions by local authorities.E+W

(1)Subject to any express provision contained in this Act or any Act passed after this Act, a local authority may arrange for the discharge of any of their functions—

(a)by a committee, a sub-committee or an officer of the authority; or

(b)by any other local authority.

[F1(1A)A local authority may not under subsection (1)(b) above arrange for the discharge of any of their functions by another local authority if, or to the extent that, that function is also a function of the other local authority and is the responsibility of the other authority’s executive.

(1B)Arrangements made under subsection (1)(b) above by a local authority (“the first authority”) with respect to the discharge of any of their functions shall cease to have effect with respect to that function if, or to the extent that,—

(a)the first authority are operating or begin to operate executive arrangements, and that function becomes the responsibility of the executive of that authority; or

(b)the authority with whom the arrangements are made (“the second authority”) are operating or begin to operate executive arrangements, that function is also a function of the second authority and that function becomes the responsibility of the second authority’s executive.

(1C)Subsections (1A) and (1B) above do not affect arrangements made by virtue of section [F29EA or] 19 of the Local Government Act 2000 (discharge of functions of and by another authority).]

[F3(1D)A combined authority may not arrange for the discharge of any functions under subsection (1) if, or to the extent that, the function is a mayoral function of a mayor for the area of the authority.

(1E)[F4In subsection (1D) “mayoral function”] has the meaning given by section 107G(7) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009.]

[F5(1F)A combined county authority may not arrange for the discharge of any functions under subsection (1) if, or to the extent that, the function is a mayoral function of a mayor for the area of the authority.

(1G)In subsection (1F) “mayoral function” has the meaning given by section 41(8) of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023.]

(2)Where by virtue of this section any functions of a local authority may be discharged by a committee of theirs, then, unless the local authority otherwise direct, the committee may arrange for the discharge of any of those functions by a sub-committee or an officer of the authority and where by virtue of this section any functions of a local authority may be discharged by a sub-committee of the authority, then, unless the local authority or the committee otherwise direct, the sub-committee may arrange for the discharge of any of those functions by an officer of the authority.

(3)Where arrangements are in force under this section for the discharge of any functions of a local authority by another local authority, then, subject to the terms of the arrangements, that other authority may arrange for the discharge of those functions by a committee, sub-committee or officer of theirs and subsection (2) above shall apply in relation to those functions as it applies in relation to the functions of that other authority.

(4)Any arrangements made by a local authority or committee under this section for the discharge of any functions by a committee, sub-committee, officer or local authority shall not prevent the authority or committee by whom the arrangements are made from exercising those functions.

(5)Two or more local authorities may discharge any of their functions jointly and, where arrangements are in force for them to do so,—

(a)they may also arrange for the discharge of those functions by a joint committee of theirs or by an officer of one of them and subsection (2) above shall apply in relation to those functions as it applies in relation to the functions of the individual authorities; and

(b)any enactment relating to those functions or the authorities by whom or the areas in respect of which they are to be discharged shall have effect subject to all necessary modifications in its application in relation to those functions and the authorities by whom and the areas in respect of which (whether in pursuance of the arrangements or otherwise) they are to be discharged.

[F6(5A)Arrangements made under subsection (5) above by two or more local authorities with respect to the discharge of any of their functions shall cease to have effect with respect to that function if, or to the extent that, the function becomes the responsibility of an executive of any of the authorities.

(5B)Subsection (5A) above does not affect arrangements made by virtue of section [F79EB or] 20 of the Local Government Act 2000 (joint exercise of functions).]

[F8(5C)Arrangements under subsection (5) by two or more local authorities with respect to the discharge of any of their functions cease to have effect with respect to that function if, or to the extent that, the function becomes a general function of a mayor for the area of a combined authority [F9or combined county authority].

(5D)Subsection (5C) does not prevent arrangements under subsection (5) being entered into in respect of that function by virtue of—

[F10(a)]section 107E of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (joint exercise of general functions) [F11, or

(b)section 32 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (joint exercise of general functions).]

(5E)In subsection (5C), “general functions”[F12—

(a)in relation to a combined authority, has the meaning given in section 107D(2) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009;

(b)in relation to a combined county authority, has the meaning given in section 30(2) of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023.]]

(6)A local authority’s functions with respect to levying, or issuing a precept for, a rate F13... shall be discharged only by the authority.

[F14(6A)Community Infrastructure Levy under Part 11 of the Planning Act 2008 is not a rate for the purposes of subsection (6).]

F15(7). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F16(7A). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(8)Any enactment, except one mentioned in subsection (9) below, which contains any provision—

(a)which empowers or requires local authorities or any class of local authorities to establish committees (including joint committees) for any purpose or enables a Minister to make an instrument establishing committees of local authorities for any purpose or empowering or requiring a local authority or any class of local authorities to establish committees for any purpose; or

(b)which empowers or requires local authorities or any class of local authorities to arrange or to join with other authorities in arranging for the exercise by committees so established or by officers of theirs of any of their functions, or provides that any specified functions of theirs shall be discharged by such committees or officers, or enables any Minister to make an instrument conferring such a power, imposing such a requirement or containing such a provision;

shall, to the extent that it makes any such provision, cease to have effect.

(9)The following enactments, that is to say—

F17(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F18(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F19(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F20(d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F21(e). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F22(f). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F23(g). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F24(h). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

are exempted from subsection (8) above.

(10)This section shall not authorise a local authority to arrange for the discharge by any committee, sub-committee or local authority of any functions which by any enactment mentioned in subsection (9) above are required or authorised to be discharged by a specified committee, but the foregoing provision shall not prevent a local authority who are required by or under any such enactment to establish, or delegate functions to, a committee established by or under any such enactment from arranging under this section for the discharge of their functions by an officer of the local authority or committee, as the case may be.

[F25(10A)In determining what arrangements to make for the discharge of any functions, a principal council in Wales may act as if paragraph (f) were omitted from subsection (9) above.]

F26(11). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(12)References in this section and section 102 below to the discharge of any of the functions of a local authority include references to the doing of anything which is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the discharge of any of those functions.

(13)In this Part of this Act “local authority” includes the Common Council, the Sub-Treasurer of the Inner Temple, the Under Treasurer of the Middle Temple, F27...[F28any joint authority F29..., [F30an economic prosperity board, a combined authority,] [F31a combined county authority,] [F32a sub-national transport body,] F33... F34...,] a joint board on which a local authority within the meaning of this Act or any of the foregoing authorities are represented and, without prejudice to the foregoing, any port health authority.

[F35(13A)In this section “local authority” includes the London Fire Commissioner; but nothing in this section authorises functions of the Commissioner to be discharged by a committee or sub-committee of the Commissioner.]

(14)Nothing in this section affects the operation of section 5 of the 1963 Act or the M1Local Authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970.

[F36(15)Nothing in this section applies in relation to any function under the Licensing Act 2003 of a licensing authority (within the meaning of that Act).]

102 Appointment of committees.E+W

(1)For the purpose of discharging any functions in pursuance of arrangements made under section 101 above [F37or] [F38section 53 of the Children Act 1989]—

(a)a local authority may appoint a committee of the authority; or

(b)two or more local authorities may appoint a joint committee of those authorities; or

(c)any such committee may appoint one or more sub-committees.

[F39(1A)For the purpose of discharging any function in pursuance of arrangements made under [F40section 9E(2)(b)(iv), (3)(b), (4)(a) or (5)(a)] of the Local Government Act 2000 [F41or under regulations made under section 18 of that Act] (discharge of functions by area committees)—

(a)a local authority may appoint a committee of the authority; or

(b)any such committee may appoint one or more sub-committees.]

(2)Subject to the provisions of this section, the number of members of a committee appointed under subsection (1) [F42or (1A)] above, their term of office, and the area (if restricted) within which the committee are to exercise their authority shall be fixed by the appointing authority or authorities or, in the case of a sub-committee, by the appointing committee.

(3)A committee appointed under subsection (1) [F42or (1A)] above, other than a committee for regulating and controlling the finance of the local authority or of their area, may, subject to section 104 below, include persons who are not members of the appointing authority or authorities or, in the case of a sub-committee, the authority or authorities of whom they are a sub-committee, F43. . .

(4)A local authority may appoint a committee, and two or more local authorities may join in appointing a committee, to advise the appointing authority or authorities [F44, or, where the appointing authority or each of the authorities operate executive arrangements, any executive of that or those authorities, or a committee or member of that executive,] on any matter relating to the discharge of their functions, and any such committee—

(a)may consist of such persons (whether members of the appointing authority or authorities or not) appointed for such term as may be determined by the appointing authority or authorities; and

(b)may appoint one or more sub-committees to advise the committee with respect to any such matter.

(5)Every member of a committee appointed under this section who at the time of his appointment was a member of the appointing authority or one of the appointing authorities shall upon ceasing to be a member of that authority also cease to be a member of the committee; but for the purposes of this section a member of a local authority shall not be deemed to have ceased to be a member of the authority by reason of retirement if he has been re-elected a member thereof not later than the day of his retirement.

[F45(6)Subsection (7) applies in relation to—

(a)a committee or sub-committee appointed by a local authority in England wholly or partly for the purposes of discharging functions of a fire and rescue authority,

(b)a joint committee appointed by two or more local authorities in England wholly or partly for the purposes of discharging such functions, or

(c)a sub-committee appointed by any such committee or joint committee wholly or partly for the purposes of discharging such functions.

(7)A relevant police and crime commissioner may only be appointed to a committee or sub-committee to which this subsection applies in response to a request made by the commissioner to the appointing authority or authorities or, in the case of a sub-committee, to the appointing committee.

(8)If a request under subsection (7) is made to an appointing authority or authorities or an appointing committee, they must—

(a)consider the request,

(b)give reasons for their decision to agree to or refuse the request, and

(c)publish those reasons in such manner as they think appropriate.

(9)A relevant police and crime commissioner may attend, speak at and vote at a meeting of a committee [F46described in subsection (6)] only if and to the extent that the business of the meeting relates to the functions of a fire and rescue authority.

(10)Subsection (11) defines “relevant police and crime commissioner” for the purposes of this section in relation to—

(a)a committee or sub-committee appointed by a local authority,

(b)a joint committee appointed by two or more local authorities, or

(c)a sub-committee appointed by a committee of a local authority or a joint committee of two or more local authorities.

(11)For those purposes “relevant police and crime commissioner” means a police and crime commissioner—

(a)whose area is the same as, or contains all of, the area of that local authority or (as the case may be) one or more of those local authorities, or

(b)all or part of whose area falls within the area of that local authority or (as the case may be) one or more of those local authorities.]

103 Expenses of joint committees.E+W

The expenses incurred by a joint committee of two or more local authorities whether appointed or established under this Part of this Act or any other enactment shall be defrayed by those authorities in such proportions as they may agree or in case of disagreement as may be determined—

(a)in any case in which those authorities are the councils of parishes [F47or groups of parishes] situated in the same district, by the district council;

[F48(aa)in any case in which those authorities are the councils of communities or groups of communities situated in the same principal area, by the council of that area;] and

(b)in any other case, by a single arbitrator agreed on by the appointing authorities or, in default of agreement, appointed by the Secretary of State.

104 Disqualification for membership of committees and joint committees.E+W

(1)Subject to subsection (2) below, a person who is disqualified under Part V of this Act for being elected or being a member of a local authority shall be disqualified for being a member of a committee (including a sub-committee) of that authority, or being a representative of that authority on a joint committee (including a sub-committee) of the authority and another local authority, whether the committee or joint committee are appointed under this Part of this Act or under any other enactment.

(2)A person shall not by reason of his being a teacher in, or being otherwise employed in, any school, F49. . . or other educational institution maintained or assisted by a [F50local authority] be disqualified for being a member of any committee of any local authority—

(a)appointed wholly or partly for the purpose of discharging [F51any education functions as defined in section 579(1) of the Education Act 1996]; or

(b)appointed for purposes connected with the execution of the M2Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964;

or for being a representative of a local authority on a joint committee of the authority and another authority which has been appointed or established for any such purpose.

(3)Section 92 above shall, so far as applicable, apply with respect to membership of or a claim to be entitled to act as a member of a committee of a local authority or a joint committee of two or more local authorities as it applies to membership of or claims to be entitled to act as a member of a local authority.

(4)In the application of this section to the Common Council for the reference to Part V of this Act there shall be substituted a reference to the enactments for the time being in force relating to disqualification for membership of the Common Council.

F52(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F53105 Disability for voting on account of interest in contracts, etc.E+W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

106 Standing orders.E+W

Standing orders may be made as respects any committee of a local authority by that authority or as respects a joint committee of two or more local authorities, whether appointed or established under this Part of this Act or any other enactment, by those authorities with respect to the quorum, proceedings and place of meeting of the committee or joint committee (including any sub-committee) but, subject to any such standing orders, the quorum, proceedings and place of meeting shall be such as the committee, joint committee or sub-committee may determine.

107 Application of foregoing provisions to [F54the Common Council].E+W

[F55(1)In their application to the Common Council as police authority, sections 101 to 106 shall have effect subject to the following provisions of this section (and in those provisions references to the Common Council are references to the Council as police authority).]

(2)F56... Section 101(1)(b) and (3) above shall not apply to [F57the Common Council].

[F58(2A)The Common Council may not, under section 101(1)(a), arrange for any person to exercise a function that the Common Council has under or by virtue of Part 2 of the Police Reform Act 2002 (see instead section 23(2)(pa) of that Act and regulations made under that provision).]

(3)The officers who may discharge the functions of [F59the Common Council] in pursuance of arrangements under section 101(1), (2) or (5) above shall include the chief officer of police, his deputy while performing his duties and any civilian officer employed [F60by the Common Council].

[F61(3A)Where pursuant to arrangements made by virtue of subsection (3) above—

(a)a chief officer of police, or

(b)the deputy of a chief officer of police,

may discharge functions of [F62the Common Council], he may himself arrange for the discharge of any of those functions by a member of the police force or by a person who is employed by [F63the Common Council] but is not under [F64the Common Council's] direction and control.]

[F65(3B)Section 101 above, in its application to [F66the Common Council], shall have effect as if a reference in subsection (1), (2), (4) or (5) to an officer of an authority included a reference to a member of [F67the Common Council].]

[F68(4)The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision regulating the power of [F69the Common Council] under section 101 above to arrange for the discharge of their functions by a committee, sub-committee, officer or member of [F70the Common Council] as respects part only of their area.

(4A)Regulations under subsection (4) may in particular—

(a)impose limitations or restrictions on the functions which may be the subject of arrangements of the kind referred to in that subsection;

(b)make provision as to the membership or chairmanship of any committee or sub-committee discharging functions under such arrangements;

(c)impose limitations or restrictions on which officers or members of [F71the Common Council] may discharge functions under such arrangements.

(4B)A statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (4) shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.]

(5)Section 101(10) above shall not apply to [F72the Common Council].

F73(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F74(7). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(8)A person shall not be disqualified by virtue of section 104 above for being a member of [F75the Common Council] or the committee (or any sub-committee) of [F76the Common Council] by virtue of his holding any office or employment, except employment [F77by the Common Council].

F78(8A). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F79(9). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F80(10). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

108 Committees of parish meetings.E+W

In a parish not having a separate parish council the parish meeting may, subject to any provisons made by a grouping order and subject to such conditions as the meeting may impose, arrange for the discharge of any of their functions by a committee of local government electors for the parish, but any such arrangement shall not prevent the meeting from exercising those functions.

109 Conferring functions of parish council on parish meeting.E+W

(1)On the application of the parish meeting of a parish not having a separate parish council, the district council may, subject to the provisions of the grouping order if the parish is grouped with any other parish, by order confer on the parish meeting any functions of a parish council.

(2)Two copies of every order made under this section shall be sent by the district council to the Secretary of State.

F81110. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W