Powers of intervention
23Power of Welsh Ministers to intervene
(1)The Welsh Ministers have the power to intervene under this Chapter in the exercise of education functions by a local authority if subsection (2) or (3) applies.
(2)This subsection applies if—
(a)the Welsh Ministers have given a warning notice, and
(b)the local authority has failed to comply, or secure compliance, with the notice to the Welsh Ministers’ satisfaction within the compliance period.
(3)This subsection applies if the Welsh Ministers are satisfied that one or more of grounds 1 to 3 exist in relation to the local authority and they have reason to believe that—
(a)there is a related risk to the health or safety of any person that calls for urgent intervention under this Chapter, or
(b)the local authority is unlikely to be able to comply, or secure compliance, with a warning notice.
(4)Where the Welsh Ministers have the power to intervene, they must keep the circumstances giving rise to the power under review.
(5)If the Welsh Ministers conclude that the grounds for intervention have been dealt with to their satisfaction or that exercise of their powers under this Chapter would not be appropriate for any other reason, they must notify the local authority of their conclusion in writing.
(6)The Welsh Ministers’ power to intervene continues in effect until they give notice under subsection (5).
(7)Where the Welsh Ministers have the power to intervene, they are not limited to taking the action they said they were minded to take in a warning notice.
24Power to require local authority to obtain advisory services
(1)This section applies if the Welsh Ministers have the power to intervene in the exercise of education functions by a local authority.
(2)The Welsh Ministers may direct the local authority to enter into a contract or other arrangement with a specified person, or a person falling within a specified class for the provision to the authority or the governing body of a school maintained by it (or both), of specified services of an advisory nature.
(3)The direction may require the contract or other arrangement to contain specified terms and conditions.
(4)In this section “specified” means specified in a direction under this section.
25Power to require performance of functions by other persons on behalf of authority
(1)This section applies if the Welsh Ministers have the power to intervene in the exercise of education functions by a local authority.
(2)The Welsh Ministers may give such directions to the local authority or any of its officers as they think are appropriate for securing that the functions to which the grounds for intervention relate are performed on behalf of the authority by a person specified in the direction.
(3)A direction under subsection (2) may require that any contract or other arrangement made by the authority with the specified person contains terms and conditions specified in the direction.
26Power to require performance of functions by Welsh Ministers or nominee
(1)This section applies if the Welsh Ministers have the power to intervene in the exercise of education functions by a local authority.
(2)The Welsh Ministers may direct that the functions to which the grounds for intervention relate are to be exercised by the Welsh Ministers or a person nominated by them.
(3)If a direction is made under subsection (2), the local authority must comply with the instructions of the Welsh Ministers or their nominee in relation to the exercise of the functions.
27Power to direct exercise of other education functions
(1)If the Welsh Ministers think it is expedient, a direction under section 25 or 26 may relate to the performance of education functions in addition to the functions to which the grounds for intervention relate.
(2)The Welsh Ministers may have regard (among other things) to financial considerations in deciding whether it is expedient that a direction should relate to education functions other than functions relating to the grounds for intervention.
28General power to give directions and take steps
(1)This section applies if the Welsh Ministers have the power to intervene in the exercise of education functions by a local authority.
(2)If the Welsh Ministers think it is appropriate in order to deal with the grounds for intervention, the Welsh Ministers may—
(a)give directions to the local authority or any of its officers, or
(b)take any other steps.