BAILII [Home] [Databases] [World Law] [Multidatabase Search] [Help] [Feedback]

United Kingdom Statutory Instruments


You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> United Kingdom Statutory Instruments >> The Local Government (Best Value Authorities) (Power to Trade) (England) Order 2004 No. 1705
URL: http://www.bailii.org/uk/legis/num_reg/2004/20041705.html

[New search] [Help]



2004 No. 1705

LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ENGLAND

The Local Government (Best Value Authorities) (Power to Trade) (England) Order 2004

  Made 5th July 2004 
  Laid before Parliament 8th July 2004 
  Coming into force 29th July 2004 

The First Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 95, 96 and 123 of the Local Government Act 2003[1], hereby makes the following Order:

Citation, commencement and application
     1.  - (1) This Order may be cited as the Local Government (Best Value Authorities) (Power to Trade) (England) Order 2004 and shall come into force on 29th July 2004.

    (2) Subject to paragraph (3), this Order applies to best value authorities in England[
2] which - 

    (3) This Order does not apply to a best value authority that is - 

when acting in its capacity as a fire authority.

Power to trade in function-related activities
     2.  - (1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), a best value authority is authorised to do for a commercial purpose anything which it is authorised to do for the purpose of carrying on any of its ordinary functions[4].

    (2) Before exercising the power conferred by paragraph (1), the authority shall - 

    (3) A best value authority shall recover the costs of any accommodation, goods, services, staff or any other thing that it supplies to a company[5] in pursuance of any agreement or arrangement to facilitate the exercise of the power conferred by paragraph (1).

    (4) In this article, "business case" means a comprehensive statement as to - 

Transitional arrangements
     3. Where a best value authority ceases to be within one of the categories specified in article 1(2)(b) - 



Signed by authority of the First Secretary of State


Nick Raynsford
Minister of State Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

5th July 2004



EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)


This Order applies to local authorities in England which, by an order made under section 99(4) of the Local Government Act 2003 ("the Act"), have been categorised on the basis of their performance as "excellent", "good", or "fair". This Order does not apply to the authorities referred to or specified in article 1(3), when acting in their capacity as fire authorities.

Article 2 authorises a local authority to which the Order applies to trade in any of its ordinary functions subject to conditions requiring the prior preparation and approval of a business case, and the recovery of any costs incurred by the authority in anything it supplies, including accommodation, goods, services or staff, to a company through which the trading power is exercised. Under section 95(4) of the Act, the power to trade must be exercised through a company.

Article 3 makes transitional provision. Where a local authority's performance is re-categorised as below "fair", this Order will cease to apply to it. However, it will be allowed to complete anything started in exercise of the power to trade. Any agreements or arrangements which have been entered into will be allowed to continue for a period of two years.

A full regulatory impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of business may be accessed at: www.odpm.gov.uk; or available from: ODPM Free Literature, PO Box 236, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, LS23 7NB (tel: 0870-1226-236; fax: 0870-1226-237);
e-mail: [email protected].


Notes:

[1] 2003 c. 26.back

[2] In relation to Wales, the powers conferred by sections 95(1) and 96(1) of the Local Government Act 2003 are exercisable by the National Assembly for Wales. See section 124 of that Act for the definitions of "appropriate person" and "best value authority". See also sections 95(7) and 96(4) of that Act for authorities and bodies that are not best value authorities for the purposes of those sections.back

[3] 1999 c. 27.back

[4] See section 95(7) of the Act for the meaning of "ordinary functions".back

[5] See section 95(4) of the Act for the meaning of "company".back



ISBN 0 11 049473 3


  © Crown copyright 2004

Prepared 8 July 2004


BAILII: Copyright Policy | Disclaimers | Privacy Policy | Feedback | Donate to BAILII
URL: http://www.bailii.org/uk/legis/num_reg/2004/20041705.html