Source: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2003/1/body/enacted
Timestamp: 2016-10-28 15:20:09
Document Index: 143877154

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 5', 'art 6', 'art 7', 'art 8', 'art 9', 'art 3', 'arts 4']

Skip to main contentSkip to navigationlegislation.gov.ukThe National ArchivesHelpSite MapAccessibilityContact UsCymraegHomeAbout UsBrowse LegislationNew LegislationChanges To LegislationSearch LegislationSearch LegislationTitle: (or keywords in the title)Year:Number:Type:All Legislation (excluding draft)All Primary Legislation UK Public General Acts UK Local Acts Acts of the Scottish Parliament Acts of the National Assembly for Wales Measures of the National Assembly for Wales Church Measures Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly Acts of the Old Scottish Parliament Acts of the English Parliament Acts of the Old Irish Parliament Acts of the Parliament of Great Britain Northern Ireland Orders in Council Measures of the Northern Ireland Assembly Acts of the Northern Ireland ParliamentAll Secondary Legislation UK Statutory Instruments Wales Statutory Instruments Scottish Statutory Instruments Northern Ireland Statutory Rules Church Instruments UK Ministerial Orders UK Statutory Rules and OrdersAll Draft Legislation UK Draft Statutory Instruments Scottish Draft Statutory Instruments Northern Ireland Draft Statutory RulesAll Impact Assessments UK Impact AssessmentsSearchAdvanced SearchLocal Government in Scotland Act 2003You are here:2003 asp 1Whole Act without SchedulesTable of ContentsContentExplanatory NotesMore ResourcesPrevious: IntroductionNextPlain ViewPrint OptionsWhat VersionLatest available (Revised)Original (As enacted)Advanced FeaturesShow Explanatory Notes for Sections Opening OptionsOpen whole ActMore ResourcesOriginal Print PDFView moreStatus:This is the original version (as it was originally enacted).Part 1Best value and accountabilityDuty to secure best value1Local authorities' duty to secure best value(1)It is the duty of a local authority to make arrangements which secure best value.
2Considerations bearing on performance of duty under section 1(1)In the performance of its duties under section 1 above, a local authority shall have regard—
Enforcement3Action by Accounts Commission following report by Controller of Audit(1)On a report being made to it by the Controller of Audit under section 102(1) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (c. 65) (the “1973 Act”), the Accounts Commission for Scotland may do, in any order, all or any of the following, or none of them—
4Hearings under section 3 above(1)Sections 103C (procedure, evidence etc. at hearings held by Commission) and 103D (findings of hearings) of the 1973 Act apply to hearings held under section 3(1)(b) above as they apply to hearings held under section 103B(1)(b) of that Act.
5Action by local authorities on receipt of findings(1)A local authority receiving a copy of findings under section 103D of the 1973 Act as applied by section 4 above shall consider those findings in accordance with section 103E(1) and (2) of that Act and subsections (3) to (7) of the said section 103E shall apply accordingly.
Other provisions about best value6Accounts Commission’s studies and recommendations to include aspects of securing best value(1)In subsection (1) of section 97A (Commission’s studies for improving economy etc.) of the 1973 Act—
(b)”; and(b)for “for”, where second occurring, there is inserted—
(c)”.(2)After that subsection there is inserted—
Relaxation of rules about contracts and supply of goods and services7Local authority contracts: relaxation of exclusion of non-commercial considerations(1)The following provisions of section 17(5) of the Local Government Act 1988 (c. 9) (the “1988 Act”) do not operate in relation to a local authority in any of the cases specified in subsection (2) below—
8Relaxation of restrictions on supply of goods and services etc. by local authorities(1)The Local Authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970 (c. 39) is modified as provided in subsections (2) and (3) below.
(i)for “public body within the meaning of this section” and “body”, wherever subsequently occurring, there is, in each case, substituted “person”;
(ii)after “may”, where it first occurs, there is inserted “, in relation to any relevant trading operation carried on by the authority,”;
(iv)in paragraph (c), for “vehicle, plant or apparatus belonging to” there is substituted “property belonging to or facilities under the control of” and for “vehicle or other property” there is substituted “property or facility”; and
(1I)If, however, in the case of a trading operation for which no amount has been fixed, the Scottish Ministers give prior consent to a local authority entering into an agreement under subsection (1) above in relation to that trading operation, that prohibition does not apply.
(1J)An order under subsection (1D)(b) above shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the Scottish Parliament.
(1K)Before making such an order, the Scottish Ministers shall consult such persons as they think fit.
(1L)The circumstances referred to in paragraph (c) of subsection (1B) above are that the local authority considers that the provision of the goods or services under the contract mentioned in that paragraph will be facilitated if the person who has entered into the contract is within that paragraph.
(1M)A local authority shall, before entering any such agreement as is referred to in subsection (1) above, have regard to whether doing so will be likely to promote or improve the well-being of—
(1N)For the purposes of subsection (1M) above, “well-being” is to be construed in the same way as it is construed for the purposes of section 20 of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 (asp 1).
(1O)References in this section to a trading operation are, in relation to a local authority, references to a trading operation for which, in accordance with proper accounting practices (within the meaning of section 12 of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 (asp 1)) the authority keep trading accounts.
(1P)The reference in subsection (1) above to a relevant trading operation is a reference to a trading operation which is carried on for the purpose of enabling a local authority to raise money, by borrowing or otherwise.”;
(i)for the words “preceding subsection” there is substituted “subsection (1) above”;
(iii)after “property” there is inserted “, goods or materials”; and
(iv)after “except” there is inserted “(i)” and at the end there is inserted “;
(a)in subsection (1) for “public body” there is substituted “person”; and
9Special provision for local authority contracts for construction of buildings or works(1)A local authority may, in accordance with regulations made under this section, enter into an agreement with any person for the construction or maintenance by the authority of any buildings or works.
10Trading operations and accounts(1)It is the duty of a local authority to conduct each of its significant trading operations so that, as respects that operation—
Disposal of land for less than full value11Disposal of land by local authorities for less than full value(1)In section 74 of the 1973 Act—
Accounts, finance and performance accountability12Proper accounting practices(1)It is the duty of a local authority to observe proper accounting practices.
13Publication by local authorities of information about finance and performance(1)It is the duty of a local authority to make arrangements for the reporting to the public of the outcome of the performance of its functions.
(i)after “year”, where first occurring, there is inserted “or such other period as is specified in the direction being a period beginning not less than 3 months after the giving of the direction”;
(ii)after “effectiveness” there is inserted “and of securing best value in accordance with section 1 of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 (asp 1)”;
(iii)after “year”, where secondly occurring, there is inserted “or other period”;
(iv)after “years”, there is inserted “or, as the case may be, other periods”;
(b)in subsection (2), after “year”, in each place where that word occurs, there is inserted “or other period”.
(a)in subsection (1)(a), after “years” there is inserted “or other periods”; and
(b)in subsection (4) there is inserted at the end “or, where another period has, under section 1(1) above, been specified in the direction, than such date as is there specified for the purposes of this subsection.”.
14Application of this Part to other bodiesThis Part of this Act applies also to those bodies to which Part VII (finance) of the 1973 Act applies by virtue of section 106(1) of that Act (application to committees, joint committees and joint boards the members of which are appointed by local authorities and to charities etc. the trustees of which are local authorities or their members).
Part 2Community planning15Community planning(1)It is the duty of a local authority to initiate and, having done so, to maintain and facilitate a process (in this Act, called “community planning”) by which the public services provided in the area of the local authority are provided and the planning of that provision takes place—
(a)public authorities or bodies;
(b)bodies which, not being public bodies, have functions of a public nature or engage in activities of that nature;
(c)persons or office-holders who have such functions or engage in such activities,
16Community planning: further provision(1)It is the duty of—
(d)a joint board for the purposes of the Fire Services Act 1947 (c. 41);
17Reports and information(1)A local authority shall publish from time to time reports on how it has implemented its duties under section 15 above, on what has been done by way of community planning in its area, on what were the results of that which was done and on what action has been taken to comply with section 59 below in the course of community planning.
(a)”;(b)paragraphs (a) and (b) become respectively sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii);
18Guidance(1)Every authority, body, office-holder or other person initiating, maintaining, facilitating or participating in community planning shall, in doing so, have regard to any guidance provided by the Scottish Ministers about community planning.
19Establishment of corporate bodies to co-ordinate and further community planning etc.(1)The Scottish Ministers may—
Part 3Power to advance well-being20Power to advance well-being(1)A local authority has power to do anything which it considers is likely to promote or improve the well-being of—
21Guidance on exercise of power under section 20(1)Before exercising the power under section 20 above, a local authority shall have regard to any guidance provided by the Scottish Ministers about the exercise of the power.
22Limits on power under section 20(1)The power under section 20 above does not enable a local authority to do anything which it is, by virtue of a limiting provision, unable to do.
Part 4Enforcement and scrutiny23Enforcement: preliminary notice(1)Where, on a recommendation having been made to them under section 103D of the 1973 Act as applied by section 4 above, it appears to the Scottish Ministers—
24Enforcement directions(1)Where, following the service of a preliminary notice and the expiry of the time specified in it under section 23(3)(b) above, it still appears to the Scottish Ministers that the local authority is not complying with its duties under section 1, 13, 15 or, as the case may be, 17 above and that action by them under this section is justified they may give the authority an enforcement direction.
25Scrutiny of local authorities' police and fire functions(1)An inspector of constabulary appointed under section 33 of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967 (c. 77) may inquire into and report to the Scottish Ministers on—
(2)An Inspector (including the Chief or an Assistant Inspector) of Fire Services for Scotland appointed under section 24 of the Fire Services Act 1947 (c. 41) may inquire into and report to the Scottish Ministers on—
(a)whether the local authority is carrying out its functions as fire authority so as to comply with its duties under sections 1, 13, 15 or, as the case may be, 17 above; and
(a)a local authority (in carrying out its functions as police authority or, as the case may be, fire authority); or
26Excess of power: preliminary notice(1)If it appears to the Scottish Ministers—
27Excess of power: enforcement(1)An enforcement direction is a direction by the Scottish Ministers requiring the local authority to which it is given to take such action as is specified in the direction being action calculated to remedy or prevent the recurrence of its significant excess of power.
Part 5Rating and council tax28Rate relief on former agricultural premises etc.(1)In section 5 of the Local Government and Rating Act 1997 (c. 29) (which provides that Schedule 2 to that Act (which gives rate relief for certain lands and heritages in rural settlements) is to have effect), the words “in rural settlements” are repealed.
29Rate relief for food stores in rural settlementsIn paragraph 3 (mandatory rate relief for general stores etc. in rural settlements) of that Schedule—
(a)in sub-paragraph (2)(c)(i), after the word “store” there is inserted “, qualifying food store”;
30Derating of automatic telling machine sitesAfter section 8B of the Valuation and Rating (Scotland) Act 1956 (c. 60) there is inserted—
“8CExclusion of automatic telling machine sites from valuation roll(1)There shall not, subject to subsection (2) of this section, be entered in the valuation roll for any year beginning on or after 1st April 2003 any lands or heritages which—
31Derating of certain buildings used in connection with agricultural operationsIn section 14 (which provides that certain buildings used in connection with agricultural operations are not to be entered on the valuation roll) of the Local Government (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1963 (c. 12)—
(ii)for the words from “occupied”, where it first occurs, to “land”, where it second occurs, there is substituted “is to be treated as a reference to such land only so far as it is”;
32Power to combine lands and heritages situated in more than one valuation area(1)In section 6A (power of Scottish Ministers to combine and divide lands and heritages) of the Valuation and Rating (Scotland) Act 1956 (c. 60)—
(b)for the words “this section”, where they appear in subsections (8), (9) and (10), there is substituted “subsection (7) above”.
33Council tax: discount for unoccupied dwellings(1)The Scottish Ministers may, by regulations—
Part 6Waste management34Integrated waste management plans(1)After section 44 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (c. 43) there is inserted—
“Integrated waste management plans: Scotland44ZADuty to prepare integrated waste management plan(1)It shall be the duty of a local authority to—
44ZBApproval of integrated waste management plan(1)The Scottish Ministers shall—
44ZCImplementation of integrated waste management plan(1)It shall be the duty of a local authority—
44ZDModification of integrated waste management plan(1)A local authority—
(2)Section 49 (waste recycling plans) of that Act of 1990 is repealed.
Part 7Finance35Capital expenditure limits(1)It is the duty of a local authority to determine and keep under review the maximum amount which it can afford to allocate to capital expenditure.
36Imposition of capital expenditure limits(1)The Scottish Ministers may—
37Capital grants(1)The Scottish Ministers may make grants to local authorities in respect of their capital expenditure.
38Scottish Ministers' power to pay off loans made to local authorities(1)The Scottish Ministers may make to the Public Works Loan Commissioners or to any other person payment reducing or extinguishing a local authority’s liability to the Commissioners or, as the case may be, that other person in respect of a loan made by the Commissioners or that other person to the authority for the purposes of capital expenditure.
39Provisions supplementary to sections 35 to 38(1)In sections 35 to 38 above, references to capital expenditure are, in relation to a local authority, references to that expenditure of the authority which, in accordance with proper accounting practices, falls to be capitalised.
40Power of local authorities to invest money(1)A local authority may, in accordance with regulations made under this section, invest money.
41Establishment of local authority funds other than general fund: setting of council tax(1)In section 93 of the 1973 Act—
(a)in subsection (4) (calculation of the part of a local authority’s expenses falling to be met out of council tax) there is inserted at the end “but not of any amounts in such fund (other than the local authority’s general fund) as is established by the authority under regulations made for the purposes of this subsection.”; and
Part 8Miscellaneous42Paid time off for councillors not to be political donation(1)In paragraph 4 (matters that are not donations) of Schedule 7 to the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (c. 41)—
43Remote participation in and calling of local authority meetings(1)The meetings of a local authority and its committees, including joint committees, and sub-committees thereof may (as well as being conducted in the way in which they have been conducted before the commencement of this section, that is to say, by all members being present together in a pre-determined place) be conducted in any other way in which each member is enabled to participate although not present with others in such a place.
44Travel concessions(1)In section 93(7) of the Transport Act 1985 (c. 67) (persons eligible for travel concessions), for paragraph (a) there is substituted—
45Power to charge for vacant places on school buses etc.(1)In subsection (2) (duty to allow certain pupils to use vacant places) of section 51 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 (c. 44), the words “without charge” are repealed.
46Power to provide funds for speed cameras etc.(1)The Scottish Ministers may make payments in respect of the whole or any part of the expenditure of a local authority or a joint police board in relation to—
47Power to provide funds for private water supplies(1)It is the duty of a local authority to make grants to eligible persons for the purpose of enabling them to improve their private water supply or to provide themselves with a private water supply.
48Delegation of Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority functions to officialsIn paragraph 7 of Part II of Schedule 5 to the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 (c. 39) (which paragraph enables certain orders made in relation to the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority to provide for the delegation of functions of the Authority to a committee or to its chairman), for “or to the chairman” there is inserted “, to the chairman or to an officer or member of staff”.
49Parliamentary procedure for regulations about vehicles used as taxis and private hire carsIn section 20 (regulations about, among other things, taxis and private hire cars) of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (c. 45)—
(b)in subsection (3), for “subsection (1) above” there is substituted “subsection (1) or (2) above”.
50Suspension of requirement to advertise principal teacher posts(1)The requirement imposed on an education authority by section 87A of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 (c. 44) to advertise a vacant post of principal teacher is, for the period specified in subsection (2) below, suspended.
(2)That period is the period of one year (or such longer period as the Scottish Ministers may by order substitute for that period) beginning with the coming into force of this section.
51Arrangements and agreements with bodies corporate(1)It is the duty of a local authority—
52Guidance on contractual mattersIt is the duty of a local authority, in exercising a power to enter into a contract, to have regard to any guidance issued to it by the Scottish Ministers in that respect.
53Qualification of and assistance for Accounts Commission auditors(1)In section 97 of the 1973 Act, in subsection (7) (qualification of auditors appointed by Accounts Commission), for paragraph (b) there is substituted—
54Accounts Commission’s and auditor’s powers to obtain information from persons other than local authorities etc.(1)In section 97B(1) (power of Accounts Commission to require the furnishing of information and documents) of the 1973 Act—
(a)after “require”, where first occurring, there is inserted “(a)”; and
(i)after “Act” there is inserted “and any person who, by arrangement or agreement with the authority or body, is discharging any function of the authority or body”; and
(ii)at the end there is inserted “or, where that person is a body corporate, to require that person to appoint a representative to attend before the auditor for that purpose.”;
(b)in subsection (2), at the end, there is inserted “and every person who, by arrangement or agreement with a local authority, is discharging any function of the authority shall make that provision for the purpose of the auditing of the authority’s accounts.”.
55Auditor’s duty in relation to aspects of best value and community planning(1)Section 99 (duties of auditors) of the 1973 Act is renumbered as subsection (1) of that section and, in that subsection, in paragraph (c), for the words from “economy” onward there is substituted “best value and is complying with its duties under sections 15 to 17 (community planning) of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 (asp 1).”.
56Extension of Controller of Audit’s reporting functions to best value and community planning: amendment of section 102 of 1973 ActFor subsections (1) and (2) of section 102 (reports by Controller of Audit) of the 1973 Act there is substituted—
Part 9General57Power to modify enactments(1)The Scottish Ministers may, by order, amend, repeal, revoke or disapply any enactment to which this section applies.
58Ancillary provision(1)The Scottish Ministers may by order made by statutory instrument make such incidental, supplemental, consequential, transitional, transitory or saving provision as they consider necessary or expedient for the purposes or in consequence of this Act.
59Equal opportunities(1)The Scottish Ministers, local authorities, the authorities, bodies, office holders and other persons mentioned in section 16(1) of this Act and any other person discharging functions under this Act shall discharge those functions in a manner which encourages equal opportunities and, in particular, the observance of the equal opportunity requirements.
60Repeals and consequential amendments(1)The following enactments are repealed—
(c)section 122A (duty of local authorities to use resources efficiently) of that Act;
(d)sections 171A, 171B and 171C (promotion by local authorities of economic development of its area) of that Act;
(2)In section 9A(4)(b) of the Transport Act 1968 (c. 73) (application of sections 89 to 92 of the Transport Act 1985 to Passenger Transport Executives), for the words “sections 89 to” there is substituted “section”.
(a)in section 63(5)(b) (limitations on agreements for service subsidies), for the words “sections 89 to” there is substituted “section”;
(b)in section 88(1) (limitations on agreements for service subsidies), for the words “sections 89 to” there is substituted “section”; and
(c)sections 89 to 91 (obligation on local authorities to invite tenders for subsidised transport services) are repealed.
61DefinitionsIn this Act—
(a)“joint fire board” means a joint fire board constituted by an administration scheme under section 36 of the Fire Services Act 1947 (c. 41) or section 147 of the 1973 Act;
(iii)in Part 3 and sections 51 and 52 above, a council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 (c. 39), a joint fire board and a joint police board;
(iv)in Parts 4 (other than section 25 above) and 7, a council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 (c. 39), a joint fire board, a joint police board and the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority;
62Short title and commencement(1)This Act may be cited as the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003.