Source: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2015/6/part/9/crossheading/local-authority-functions
Timestamp: 2019-10-19 21:15:06
Document Index: 764323878

Matched Legal Cases: ['art. 2', 'art. 12', 'art. 2', 'art. 15', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 16', 'art. 2', 'art. 17', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 18', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2']

Changes over time for: Cross Heading: Local authority functions
Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, Cross Heading: Local authority functions is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 19 October 2019. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
111Duty to maintain listS
(1)Each local authority must establish and maintain a list of persons who make a request to it under section 109(1).
(2)The list may be established and maintained by the local authority in such form as the authority thinks fit.
(3)The duty to maintain a list under subsection (1) includes a duty to remove from the list—
(a)the name of any person—
(i)whose request under section 109(1) is agreed to, or
(ii)who withdraws such a request before it is agreed to, and
(b)any other information relating to any such person.
I1S. 111 in force at 1.4.2018 by S.S.I. 2017/458, art. 2, sch. (with art. 12)
I2S. 112 in force at 1.4.2018 by S.S.I. 2017/458, art. 2, sch. (with art. 15)
113Duty of tenant of allotment site to grant subleaseS
(1)Subsection (2) applies where an allotment site is let by a local authority.
(2)If the local authority requests that the tenant of the allotment site grant a sublease of an unoccupied allotment on the site to a person entered in the list maintained under section 111(1), the tenant must grant such a sublease.
I3S. 113 in force at 1.4.2018 by S.S.I. 2017/458, art. 2, sch.
I4S. 114 in force at 1.4.2018 by S.S.I. 2017/458, art. 2, sch.
115Allotment site regulationsS
(1)Each local authority must make regulations about allotment sites in its area.
(2)[F1A local authority must make its first regulations under subsection (1)] before the expiry of the period of two years beginning with the date on which this section comes into force [F2, and those regulations must make provision for each allotment site in the area of the local authority.]
(3)Regulations under subsection (1) must in particular include provision for or in connection with—
(a)allocation of allotments,
(b)rent, including a method of determining fair rent that takes account of—
(i)services provided by, or on behalf of, the local authority to tenants of allotments,
(ii)the costs of providing those services, and
(iii)circumstances that affect, or may affect, the ability of a person to pay the rent payable under the lease of an allotment,
(c)cultivation of allotments,
(d)maintenance of allotments,
(e)maintenance of allotment sites,
(f)buildings or other structures that may be erected on allotments, the modifications that may be made to such structures and the materials that may or may not be used in connection with such structures,
(g)the keeping of livestock (including poultry), and
(h)landlord inspections.
(4)Regulations under subsection (1) may in particular include provision for or in connection with—
(a)buildings or other structures that may be erected on land mentioned in paragraph (b) of the definition of “allotment site” in section 108, the modifications that may be made to such structures and the materials that may or may not be used in connection with such structures,
(b)access by persons (other than allotment tenants) and domestic animals,
(c)liability for loss of or damage to property,
(d)acceptable use of allotments and allotment sites,
(e)sale of surplus produce.
(5)Regulations under subsection (1) may make different provision for different areas or different allotment sites.
F1Words in s. 115(2) substituted (16.3.2018) by The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 (Supplementary and Consequential Provisions) Order 2018 (S.S.I. 2018/97), arts. 1, 2(2)(a)
F2Words in s. 115(2) inserted (16.3.2018) by The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 (Supplementary and Consequential Provisions) Order 2018 (S.S.I. 2018/97), arts. 1, 2(2)(b)
I5S. 115 in force at 1.4.2018 by S.S.I. 2017/458, art. 2, sch.
116Allotment site regulations: further provisionS
(1)Before making regulations under section 115(1), a local authority must consult persons appearing to the local authority to have an interest.
(2)At least one month before making regulations under section 115(1), a local authority must—
(a)place an advertisement in at least one newspaper circulating in its area giving notice of—
(i)the authority's intention to make the regulations,
(ii)the general purpose of the proposed regulations,
(iii)the place where a copy of the proposed regulations may be inspected,
(iv)the fact that any person may make written representations in relation to the proposed regulations,
(v)the time within which a person may make representations, and
(vi)the address to which any representations must be sent, and
(b)make copies of the proposed regulations available for inspection by the public without payment—
(i)at its offices, and
(ii)if it considers it practicable, at the allotment site to which the regulations are to apply.
(3)Any person may make a representation in writing in relation to the proposed regulations no later than one month after the last date on which notice under subsection (2)(a) is given.
(4)Before making the regulations, the authority must—
(a)offer any person who makes a representation under subsection (3) the opportunity to make further representations in person, and
(b)take account of any representations received by it by virtue of subsection (3) and paragraph (a).
(5)The regulations are [F3made] by being signed by the proper officer of the authority.
(a)come into force
[F4(i)in the case of the first regulations made by a local authority under section 115(1), on the day after the day on which they are made,
(ii)in any other case, on the day after the day on which they are made or on such later day as may be specified in the regulations], and
(b)continue in force unless revoked.
(7)Subsections (1) to (4) apply in relation to—
(a)a proposed amendment,
(b)a proposed revocation,
(c)an amendment, or
(d)a revocation,
of regulations under section 115(1) as they apply in relation to proposed regulations, or (as the case may be) the making of proposed regulations, under that section.
(8)Subsections (5) and (6) apply in relation to an amendment, or a revocation, of regulations under section 115(1) as they apply in relation to regulations under that section [F5but—
(b)subsection (6)(b) does not apply in relation to such a revocation.]
(9)A copy of the regulations must be displayed at the entrance to an allotment site to which they apply.
(10)A local authority must provide a copy of the regulations without charge to any person following a request.
(11)In the case where an allotment site is leased by a local authority, the regulations are subject to any provision of such a lease which is contrary to, or otherwise inconsistent with, the regulations.
F3Word in s. 116(5) substituted (16.3.2018) by The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 (Supplementary and Consequential Provisions) Order 2018 (S.S.I. 2018/97), arts. 1, 2(3)(a)
F4Words in s. 116(6)(a) substituted (16.3.2018) by The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 (Supplementary and Consequential Provisions) Order 2018 (S.S.I. 2018/97), arts. 1, 2(3)(b)
F5Words in s. 116(8) substituted (16.3.2018) by The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 (Supplementary and Consequential Provisions) Order 2018 (S.S.I. 2018/97), arts. 1, 2(3)(c)
I6S. 116 in force at 1.4.2018 by S.S.I. 2017/458, art. 2, sch.
117Disposal etc. of allotment sites owned by local authorityS
(1)This section applies where a local authority owns an allotment site.
(2)A local authority may not dispose of the whole or part of the allotment site or change the use of the whole or part of the allotment site without the consent of the Scottish Ministers.
(3)Before deciding whether to grant consent, the Scottish Ministers must—
(a)seek the views of the local authority on the proposed decision, and
(b)consult such other persons appearing to them to have an interest in the proposed disposal or change of use.
(4)The Scottish Ministers may make the granting of consent subject to such conditions as they think fit.
(5)The Scottish Ministers may not grant consent unless they are satisfied that—
(a)the tenant of each allotment on the whole or part of the allotment site is to be offered a lease of another allotment of an area the same as or similar to that of the tenant's allotment––
(i)on the allotment site, or
(ii)in the area of the local authority within a reasonable distance of the allotment site, or
(b)the provision of another allotment for the tenant is unnecessary or not reasonably practicable.
(6)Any transfer of ownership of the whole or part of the allotment site, and any deed purporting to transfer such ownership, without the consent of the Scottish Ministers is of no effect.
I7S. 117 in force at 1.4.2018 by S.S.I. 2017/458, art. 2, sch. (with art. 16)
118Disposal etc. of allotment sites leased by local authorityS
(1)This section applies where a local authority leases an allotment site.
(2)A local authority may not renounce its lease of the whole or part of the allotment site without the consent of the Scottish Ministers.
(3)In the case where a change of use of the whole or part of the allotment site proposed by the local authority is permitted by the lease, the local authority may not change the use of the allotment site without the consent of the Scottish Ministers.
(4)Before deciding whether to grant consent mentioned in subsection (2) or (3), the Scottish Ministers must—
(b)consult with such other persons appearing to them to have an interest in the proposed renunciation or change of use.
(5)The Scottish Ministers may make the granting of consent mentioned in subsection (2) or (3) subject to such conditions as they think fit.
(6)The Scottish Ministers may not grant consent mentioned in subsection (2) or (3) unless they are satisfied that—
(7)Any renunciation of the local authority's lease of the whole or part of the allotment site, and any deed purporting to renounce the lease, without the consent of the Scottish Ministers is of no effect.
I8S. 118 in force at 1.4.2018 by S.S.I. 2017/458, art. 2, sch. (with art. 17)
119Duty to prepare food-growing strategyS
(1)Each local authority must prepare a food-growing strategy for its area.
(2)A local authority must publish the food-growing strategy before the expiry of the period of two years beginning with the day on which this section comes into force.
(3)A food-growing strategy is a document—
(a)identifying land in its area that the local authority considers may be used as allotment sites,
(b)identifying other areas of land in its area that could be used by a community for the cultivation of vegetables, fruit, herbs or flowers,
(c)describing how, where the authority is required to take reasonable steps under section 112(1), the authority intends to increase the provision in its area of—
(i)allotments, or
(ii)other areas of land for use by a community for the cultivation of vegetables, fruit, herbs or flowers, and
(d)containing such other information as may be prescribed.
(4)The description required by paragraph (c) of subsection (3) must in particular describe whether and how the authority intends to increase the provision of the types of land mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) of that subsection in communities which experience socio-economic disadvantage.
(5)The authority must publish the food-growing strategy on a website or by other electronic means.
I9S. 119 in force at 1.4.2018 by S.S.I. 2017/458, art. 2, sch.
120Duty to review food-growing strategyS
(1)Each local authority must review its food-growing strategy before the end of—
(a)the period of 5 years beginning with the day on which the strategy is first published under section 119(2), and
(2)If, following a review under subsection (1), the authority decides that changes to its food-growing strategy are necessary or desirable, the authority must publish a revised food-growing strategy on a website or by other electronic means.
I10S. 120 in force at 1.4.2018 by S.S.I. 2017/458, art. 2, sch.
I11S. 121 in force at 1.4.2018 by S.S.I. 2017/458, art. 2, sch. (with art. 18)
122Power to remove unauthorised buildings from allotment sitesS
(a)a building or other structure that is not permitted by, or does not comply with, a provision of regulations made under section 115(1) is erected on an allotment site, and
(b)at the time the building or other structure was erected or, as the case may be modified, regulations made under section 115(1) prohibited such erection or modification.
(2)The local authority within whose area the allotment site is situated may—
(a)remove the building or other structure from the allotment site,
(b)dispose of the materials that formed the building or other structure as it thinks fit, and
(c)recover the cost of the removal, and the disposal of the materials, of the building or other structure from a liable tenant.
(3)“Liable tenant” means, where the building or other structure was erected by or on behalf of a tenant—
(a)on the tenant's allotment, that tenant, or
(b)on other land as mentioned in paragraph (b) of the definition of “allotment site” in section 108, and the building or other structure on that other land was erected—
(i)without the consent of the tenants of other allotments on the allotment site of which that other land forms part, that tenant, or
(ii)with the consent of any tenants of such other allotments, that tenant and any other tenant who consented.
(4)A liable tenant mentioned in subsection (3)(b)(ii) is jointly and severally liable with other liable tenants mentioned in that subsection.
(5)Where a local authority proposes to take any action in exercise of a power conferred by subsection (2), it must—
(a)no later than one month before taking such action, give notice in writing of the authority's proposed action to each tenant who would be affected by such action,
(b)allow each such tenant the opportunity to make representations to the authority in relation to the proposed action,
(c)take account of any representations received by it by virtue of paragraph (b), and
(d)give notice in writing to each tenant mentioned in paragraph (a) to inform them of the authority's decision in relation to the proposed action and, if applicable, the date on which the proposed action is to take place.
(6)If the authority decides to take the proposed action, any tenant who was notified under subsection (5)(a) may appeal to the sheriff against the decision of the authority before the expiry of the period of 21 days beginning with the day on which the notice mentioned in subsection (5)(d) is given.
(7)The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make further provision for or in connection with the procedure to be followed in relation to the exercise of the powers conferred by subsection (2).
(8)In the case where an allotment site is leased by a local authority, the authority may not exercise a power conferred by subsection (2) if such exercise would contravene a provision of the lease.
I12S. 122 in force at 1.4.2018 by S.S.I. 2017/458, art. 2, sch.
123Delegation of management of allotment sitesS
(a)a local authority owns or leases an allotment site, and
(b)one or more allotments on the allotment site are leased to tenants.
(2)A person who represents the interests of all or a majority of the tenants may make a request to the local authority that the authority delegate to the person any of the authority's functions mentioned in subsection (3) in relation to the allotment site.
(3)The functions are—
(a)the functions under—
(i)section 109(7) (request to lease allotment),
(ii)section 111(1) (duty to maintain list),
(iii)section 116(9) and (10) (display and copies of allotment site regulations),
(iv)section 124 (promotion and use of allotments: expenditure),
(b)the giving of notice under—
(i)section 126(1) (notice of termination of lease of allotment or allotment site),
(ii)section 127(2)(b) (notice of resumption),
(iii)section 128(2) (notice of termination: sublease by local authority).
(4)A request under subsection (2) must—
(i)the name and address of the person making the request, and
(5)The authority may, within 14 days of receiving the request, ask—
(a)the person making the request for such further information as it considers necessary in connection with the request, and
(b)that the information be supplied within 14 days of the authority's request.
(6)The authority must give notice to the person making the request of its decision to agree to or refuse the request—
(a)where further information is requested by the authority under subsection (5), before the expiry of 56 days beginning with the date on which the request is received by the authority, or
(b)in any other case, before the expiry of 28 days beginning with the date on which the request is received by the authority.
(7)If the decision is to refuse the request, the notice referred to in subsection (6) must include reasons for the authority's decision.
(8)If the decision is to agree to the request, the authority must decide—
(a)which of its functions that are mentioned in subsection (3) are to be delegated to the person making the request, and
(b)the timing of any review of the delegation of those functions by the authority.
(9)Before making a decision under subsection (8), the authority must consult the person who made the request.
(10)The authority may recall the delegation of any of its functions delegated under this section if—
(a)it considers that the person to whom the functions are delegated is not satisfactorily carrying out a function, or
(b)there is a material disagreement between the authority and the person to whom the functions are delegated about the carrying out of the functions.
(11)In the case where an allotment site is leased by a local authority, the authority must not delegate any functions under this section to the person making the request where the delegation would contravene a provision of the lease.
I13S. 123 in force at 1.4.2018 by S.S.I. 2017/458, art. 2, sch.
124Promotion and use of allotments: expenditureS
(1)A local authority may incur expenditure for the purpose of—
(a)the promotion of allotments in its area, and
(b)the provision of training by or on behalf of the authority to tenants, or potential tenants, of allotments about the use of allotments.
(2)In deciding whether to exercise the power conferred by subsection (1), a local authority must have regard to the desirability of promoting allotments, or providing training, as mentioned in that subsection in relation to communities which experience socio-economic disadvantage.
I14S. 124 in force at 1.4.2018 by S.S.I. 2017/458, art. 2, sch.
125Use of local authority and other premises for meetingsS
(1)In relation to an allotment site, the persons mentioned in subsection (2) may make a request to the local authority in whose area the site is situated to use free of charge the premises mentioned in subsection (3) for the purpose of holding a meeting of the tenants of allotments on the site about the site.
(a)a tenant of the allotment site,
(b)a person referred to in section 123(2).
(3)The premises are—
(a)premises in a public school or grant-aided school within the area of the local authority,
(b)other premises within the area of the local authority which are—
(i)maintained by the authority,
(ii)maintained by a person other than the authority and used for or in connection with the delivery of services the provision of which is delegated by the authority to that person, or
(iii)maintained, and whose use is managed, by a person other than the authority in accordance with arrangements between the authority and that person.
(4)The request must—
(b)include the name and address of the person making the request,
(c)include information about the proposed date, time, location and purpose of the proposed meeting,
(d)be made at least one month before the date on which the meeting is proposed to take place.
(5)The local authority must, before the end of the period of 14 days beginning with the day on which it receives the request, write to the person who made the request to—
(a)grant the request,
(b)offer the person an alternative date, time or location for the proposed meeting, or
(c)refuse the request.
(6)In this section, “public school” and “grant-aided school” have the meanings given by section 135(1) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980.
I15S. 125 in force at 1.4.2018 by S.S.I. 2017/458, art. 2, sch.