120 Duty of new authorities to collaborate

(1) The new water and sewerage authorities shall, in matters of common interest which relate to the performance of their functions, consult together and collaborate with each other.

(2) Where a new water and sewerage authority propose to investigate a potential new source of water supply they shall, as soon as is practicable, give to any other such authority likely to be interested, notice of the proposal so that such consultation as is required in relation to the proposal by subsection (1) above may then begin.

121 Power of new authorities to promote or oppose private legislation

(1) A new water and sewerage authority may, where they are satisfied that it is expedient to do so—

(a) with the consent of the Secretary of State, petition for the issue of a provisional order under the [1936 c. 52.] Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act 1936; or

(b) oppose any private legislation in Parliament.

(2) The consent mentioned in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) above shall be withheld if the Secretary of State considers that the powers sought by the order petitioned for could be obtained by means of an order under the 1980 Act or, as the case may be, under the 1968 Act.

(3) An application for the consent so mentioned shall be accompanied by a concise summary of the purposes of the order petitioned for.

(4) In paragraph (b) of subsection (1) above, “private legislation in Parliament” includes—

(a) a provisional order and a Confirmation Bill relating to such an order; and

(b) any local or personal Bill.

122 Supply of goods and services to new authorities by local authorities

The powers conferred by section 1 of the [1970 c. 39.] Local Authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970 (supply of goods and services by local authorities to public bodies) shall be exercisable by a local authority as if the new water and sewerage authorities were public bodies within the meaning of that section.

123 Power to require local authorities and assessors to supply information to new authorities

(1) The Secretary of State may, by regulations made by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament, require a local authority or an assessor to furnish relevant information (whether in documentary form or in such other form as he may specify) to a new water and sewerage authority.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) above, information is relevant if, being information held—

(a) by the local authority in connection with their—

(i) setting, levying or collecting council tax or council water charges (within the meaning of Part II of the [1992 c. 14.] Local Government Finance Act 1992) or the non-domestic water rate or non-domestic sewerage rate (as defined in paragraphs (c) and (d) of section 99(2) of that Act before the repeal of those paragraphs by this Act); or

(ii) levying or collecting the non-domestic rate (as for the time being defined in section 37(1) of the 1975 Act); or

(b) as the case may be, by the assessor in connection with his functions under any enactment,

its possession by the new water and sewerage authority would, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, be likely to assist that authority to make a charges scheme or to collect, or arrange to have collected, such charges as may be fixed by a charges scheme made by them.

(3) In the application of subsections (1) and (2) above to any requirement to furnish information imposed—

(a) before 1st April 1996, “local authority” means a regional or islands council and “assessor” an assessor appointed under section 116(2) or (5) of the 1973 Act; and

(b) on or after that date—

(i) “local authority” means a council constituted under section 2 of this Act or a residuary body; and

(ii) “assessor” shall be construed in accordance with section 27 of this Act.

(4) Without prejudice to the generality of subsections (1) and (2) above, in those subsections “information” includes a copy of the whole, or of any part of, a valuation roll or valuation list.

Other miscellaneous provisions

124 Cancellation of obligation to contribute towards certain expenses incurred as respects sewerage, or disposal of sewage, in rural localities

Any contribution which the Secretary of State undertook, before 1st April 1986, to make towards such expenses as are mentioned in section 1(1)(b) of the [1944 c. 26.] Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Act 1944 (expenses incurred by a local authority in making adequate provision for the sewerage, or the disposal of the sewage, of a rural locality), and which, though payable on or after that date has not been paid, shall cease to be exigible.

General

125 Interpretation of Part II

In this Part of this Act—

• “the Board” means the Central Scotland Water Development Board;

• “charges scheme” has the meaning given by section 76(1);

• “the Customers Council” means the Scottish Water and Sewerage Customers Council (provision for the establishment of which is made by section 67(1));

• “financial year” has the meaning given by section 87(3);

• “local authority” means, subject to section 123(3), a council constituted under section 2;

• “the new water and sewerage authorities” has the meaning given by section 62(2);

• “the 1968 Act” means the [1968 c. 47.] Sewerage (Scotland) Act 1968;

• “the 1980 Act” means the [1980 c. 45.] Water (Scotland) Act 1980;

• “successor” shall be construed in accordance with section 92(9);

• “transfer date” has the meaning given by subsection (1) of section 91 and “transfer scheme” the meaning given by subsection (2) of that section.

126 Orders under Part II

Any power to make an order under this Part of this Act is exercisable by statutory instrument.