Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.-(1) This Order may be cited as the Local Government Act 1988 (Defined Activities) (Exemption of Ground Maintenance in Trunk Road Work Agreements) (Scotland) Order 1996 and shall come into force on 1st July 1997.

(2) In this Order-�

"maintenance of ground" has the meaning as in section 2(2)(f) of the Local Government Act 1988;

• "trunk road work let in competition" means work-�

  (a)

  carried out with respect to trunk roads in Scotland by-�

  (i)

  a local authority in Scotland pursuant to an agreement entered into under section 4 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984(2) (agreements between authorities); or

  (ii)

  any other defined authority pursuant to a contract for the carrying out of such work entered into with the Secretary of State;

  (b)

  carried out following the acceptance by or on behalf of the Secretary of State of a competitive tender; and

  (c)

  which principally comprises general highway works within the meaning of section 10(3) of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980(3).

Exemption in respect of maintenance of ground

2. Maintenance of ground undertaken by a defined authority shall not be treated as a defined activity so long as it is undertaken as part of trunk road work let in competition.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

Under Part I of the Local Government Act 1988 (competition), work falling within certain defined activities may be carried out by authorities only if particular conditions relating to competitive tendering are fulfilled.

This Order exempts from the requirements of Part I ground maintenance so long as it is undertaken following a competitive tender as part of an agreement between an authority and the Secretary of State relating to works on motorways and trunk roads in Scotland.