(1)Each community planning partnership must, for the purposes of this Part, divide the area of the local authority into smaller areas.
(2)The smaller areas mentioned in subsection (1) (“localities”) must be of such type or description as may be specified by the Scottish Ministers by regulations.
(3)Having carried out the duty under subsection (1), the community planning partnership must identify each locality in which persons residing there experience significantly poorer outcomes which result from socio-economic disadvantage than—
(a)those experienced by persons residing in other localities within the area of the local authority, or
(b)those experienced generally by persons residing in Scotland.
(4)In carrying out the duty under subsection (3), a community planning partnership must take account of the needs and circumstances of persons residing in the area of the local authority.
(5)Regulations under subsection (2) may specify areas of a type or description subject to any conditions specified in the regulations.
(6)The Scottish Ministers may by regulations specify that localities within the area of a local authority must each be of the same type or description as may be specified in regulations under subsection (2).
(7)In this section, references to the area of a local authority mean, in relation to a community planning partnership, the area of the local authority for which the partnership is carrying out community planning.