Local Government and Planning (Scotland) Act 1982

34Consequential transfer of property of local authorities

(1)Where under or by virtue of a provision of this Act

(a)a function of a local authority (that authority being in this section referred to as the first local authority) ceases to be a function of that authority and becomes instead one of a different local authority (in this section referred to as the second local authority) ; or

(b)the powers and duties of the two local authorities are re-allocated so that the second local authority come to have the principal responsibility (within their own area) for that function,

then, subject to any such agreement as is provided for in subsection (2) below and to subsection (6) below—

(i)any property (not being property held in trust) of the first local authority which is wholly or mainly used, or held, by that authority in relation to the discharge of that function (whether or not it is leased by them to a third party);

(ii)any property held in trust by (or by councillors or officers of) the first local authority for purposes wholly or mainly related to that function ; and

(iii)any right to nominate trustees which is enjoyed by the first local authority in respect of property held in trust (other than such property as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (ii) above) and which is wholly or mainly attributable to their having the function, or the principal responsibility therefor,

shall forthwith transfer to, and shall vest in, the second local authority or (in the case of property held in trust by councillors or officers of the first local authority) to and in councillors, or officers, nominated by the second local authority:

Provided that, as regards any transfer in respect of which the first local authority is a regional council and the second local authority might be any of the district councils in the region, the authority which is to be the second local authority shall be determined jointly by the regional council and district councils; and any agreement such as is mentioned in the foregoing provisions of this subsection shall, where it relates to a transfer such as is mentioned in the foregoing provisions of this proviso, or where such transfer would take place but for the agreement, require to be between the regional council and all the district councils in the region:

Provided also that in the case of the property mentioned in sub-paragraph (i) above transfer and vesting shall be without prejudice to the conditions of any such lease as is referred to in that sub-paragraph and in the case of the property mentioned in sub-paragraph (ii) above shall be subject to the trust referred to in the said sub-paragraph (ii).

(2)Subject to the first proviso to subsection (1) above, if or in so far as the first and the second local authority both agree that-

(a)property shall not be transferred by sub-paragraph (i) of that subsection; or

(b)a right shall not be transferred by sub-paragraph (iii) thereof,

that subsection shall have no effect as regards the property, or as the case may be the right; but even where there is such agreement as is mentioned in paragraph (a) above, any use or holding by the first local authority of the property to which the agreement relates shall no longer be in relation to such discharge as is mentioned in the said sub-paragraph (i).

(3)The Secretary of State may under this subsection issue a code of recommended practice as to transfers under subsection (1) above; and a local authority shall, as regards each such transfer, conform to that code unless, or in so far as, the first local authority and the second local authority agree otherwise.

(4)Before issuing a code under subsection (2) above, the Secretary of State shall consult any association of local authorities which appears to him to represent the interests of local authorities in Scotland.

(5)A dispute between or among local authorities as regards whether a transfer falls to take place under subsection (1) above, as to which of two or more district councils are to be the second local authority in relation to any such transfer, or as to any other matter concerning any such transfer shall be resolved by arbitration under this subsection.

(6)In subsections (1) and (2) above " property " means any property, heritable or moveable, which does not constitute or form part of a harbour and it includes all interests, rights and liabilities in or relating to such property ; in the foregoing provisions of this subsection " harbour " means anything mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (d) of section 154(3A) of the [1973 c. 65.] 1973 Act; and in the foregoing provisions of this section " local authority " includes a river purification board established under section 135 of the 1973 Act.