PART 1Local Government

CHAPTER 4Transfer and delegation of functions to certain authorities

18Duty to consider proposals for exercise of powers under sections 15 and 17

1

If the Secretary of State receives a relevant proposal from a permitted authority, the Secretary of State must—

a

consider the proposal, and

b

notify the permitted authority of what action, if any, the Secretary of State will take in relation to the proposal.

2

The Secretary of State may by regulations specify criteria to which the Secretary of State must have regard in considering a relevant proposal.

3

For the purposes of this section, a “relevant proposal” is a proposal—

a

for the exercise of the Secretary of State’s powers in sections 15 and 17 in relation to the permitted authority, and

b

that is accompanied by such information and evidence as the Secretary of State may specify by regulations.

4

Before making regulations under this section, the Secretary of State must consult such persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.