Any contract or instrument which if made or executed by a person not being a body corporate would not be required to be madeF1 by deed may, if made by a council and if the subject matter thereofF2 does not exceed £30,000 in value, be made or executed on behalf of the council by any person or persons generally or specially authorised by the council to act for that purpose.

The Department may by order amend subsection (1) so as to increase the amount for the time being specified in that subsection.

Nothing in this section shall be taken as preventing any contract or instrument from being made or executed by a council under its common seal.