London Local Authorities Act 2012

PART 1 Preliminary

1 Citation and commencement

(1) This Act may be cited as the London Local Authorities Act 2012.

(2) This Act and the London Local Authorities Acts 1990 to 2007 may be cited together as the London Local Authorities Acts 1990 to 2012.

(3) This Act shall come into operation at the end of the period of two months beginning with the date on which it is passed but sections 11 (minor and consequential amendments) and 12 (Keeling Schedule) and Schedules 1 and 2 shall be deemed to have come into operation immediately after the other provisions of this Act.

2 General interpretation

In this Act—

• ”the Act of 2007" means the London Local Authorities Act 2007;

• ”authorised officer", in relation to a borough council, means—

  (a)

  any employee of the council;

  (b)

  any other person by whom, in pursuance of arrangements made with the council, any functions under this Act fall to be discharged; or

  (c)

  any employee of any such person,

  who is authorised in writing by the council to act in relation to the relevant provision of this Act;

• ”borough council" means London borough council and includes the Common Council of the City of London in its capacity as a local authority and ”borough" and ”council" shall be construed accordingly.

PART 2 Penalty charges

3 Powers exercisable by police civilians and accredited persons

(1) Where a designation under section 38 of the Police Reform Act 2002 applies paragraph 1 of Schedule 4 to that Act (community support officers' powers to issue fixed penalty notices) to any person, that person shall have the power of a borough council to serve a penalty charge notice under section 61(2) of the Act of 2007 (penalty charges) where he has reason to believe that a penalty charge is payable by the person being served to the borough council by virtue of a penalty charge provision within the meaning of section 61(7) of that Act.

(2) An accredited person within the meaning of section 47 of the Police Reform Act 2002 whose accreditation specifies that this subsection applies to him shall have the power of a borough council to serve a penalty charge notice under section 61(2) of the Act of 2007 (penalty charges) where he has reason to believe that a penalty charge is payable by the person being served to the borough council by virtue of a penalty charge provision within the meaning of section 61(7) of that Act.

(3) An accreditation may only specify that subsection (2) applies to an accredited person if that person's accreditation also specifies that paragraph 1 of Schedule 5 to the Police Reform Act 2002 (accredited person's powers to issue fixed penalty notices) applies to him.

4 Power to require name and address

(1) If a borough council or a community support officer proposes to serve on a person a penalty charge notice under section 61(2) of the Act of 2007 (penalty charges), the council or community support officer may require the person to give him his name and address.

(2) Where a requirement of the borough council under subsection (1) is made in person then—

(a) it must be made by an authorised officer of the council; and

(b) the authorised officer must, if required to do so, show proof of his authorisation.

(3) A person commits an offence if—

(a) he fails to give his name and address when required to do so under subsection (1); or

(b) he gives a false or inaccurate name or address in response to a requirement under that subsection.

(4) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (3) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

PART 3 Public health, environmental protection and highways

5 Street litter control notices

Section 94(1)(a) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (street litter: supplementary provisions) shall apply in Greater London as though for ”commercial or retail premises" there were substituted ”premises other than dwellings".

6 Use of turnstiles at public toilets

Section 1 of the Public Lavatories (Turnstiles) Act 1963 (abolition of turnstiles) shall not apply in respect of a public lavatory or public sanitary convenience controlled or managed by a borough council.

7 Charges for permitting the use of objects, etc. on the highway

(1) In relation to a relevant permission, ”the standard amount" in section 115F(2) of the 1980 Act (power to impose conditions on permissions for execution of works and use of objects, etc. on the highway) means such amount as may be sufficient in the aggregate taking one year with another to cover the reasonable costs of a borough council, not otherwise recovered, of—

(a) the cleansing of streets in which permitted activities take place so far as that cleansing is attributable to permitted activities; and

(b) any reasonable administrative or other costs incurred in connection with the administration of Part VIIA of the 1980 Act (provision of amenities on certain highways) in relation to relevant permissions; and

(c) the cost of enforcing—

(i) the provisions of Part VIIA of the 1980 Act so far as it relates to permitted activities;

(ii) section 130 of the 1980 Act (protection of public rights) in relation to activities which are capable of being authorised by a relevant permission but are not;

(iii) the law in relation to obstruction of the highway in relation to activities which are capable of being authorised by a relevant permission but are not.

(2) Section 115F(3) of the 1980 Act shall not apply in the area of a borough council in relation to a relevant permission.

(3) In this section—

• ”the 1980 Act" means the Highways Act 1980;

• ”permitted activities" means activities carried out under the authority of a relevant permission;

• ”relevant permission" means a permission granted by a borough council under section 115E(1)(b)(i) of the 1980 Act (permission to use objects, etc. on, in or over the highway resulting in the production of income).

PART 4 Licensing

Miscellaneous

8 Amendment of City of Westminster Act 1996

(1) The City of Westminster Act 1996 (which makes provision about the closure of unlawful sex establishments) is amended as follows.

(2) In section 3(2)(a) for ”section 4(5)(a)" substitute ”section 4(6)(a)".

(3) In section 8(1)(c) and (d) for ”sending it in a prepaid registered letter, or by the recorded delivery service" substitute respectively ”post" and ”by post".

(4) In section 8(2)(b)(i) for ”in a prepaid registered letter, or by the recorded delivery service and is not returned to the authority sending it" substitute ”by post".

9 Street trading: vehicles and the internet

(1) The London Local Authorities Act 1990 is amended as follows.

(2) In section 21 (interpretation of Part III)—

(a) in subsection (1), in the definition of ”street trading", for ”subsections (1A)" substitute ”subsections (1ZA), (1A)";

(b) after subsection (1) insert the following subsection—

“(1ZA) In this Part of this Act ”street trading" shall also include the selling or exposure or offer for sale of any motor vehicle in the course of a business if the vehicle is—

(a) exposed or offered for sale on the internet; and

(b) kept on a street during the period when it is so exposed or offered for sale.”.

(3) In section 32 (fees and charges), after subsection (2) insert—

“(2A) In calculating the levels of fees and charges under subsections (1) and (2) above, the council shall disregard costs incurred by them in relation to street trading of the type described in subsection (1ZA) of section 21 (interpretation of Part III) of this Act.”.

City of Westminster Act 1999

10 Street trading in the City of Westminster

(1) The City of Westminster Act 1999 is amended as follows.

(2) In section 2 (interpretation), in the definition of ”street trading", for ”subsection (2)" substitute ”subsections (1A) and (2)".

(3) After section 2(1) insert the following subsection—

“(1A) In this Act ”street trading" shall also include the selling or exposure or offer for sale of any motor vehicle in the course of business if the vehicle is—

(a) exposed or offered for sale on the internet; and

(b) kept on a street during the period when it is so exposed or offered for sale.”.

(4) In subsection (9) of section 9 (street trading licences), after ”street trading" insert ”(other than street trading of the type described in subsection (1A) of section 2 (interpretation) of this Act)".

(5) In section 22 (fees and charges), after subsection (2) insert—

“(2A) In calculating the levels of fees and charges under subsections (1) and (2) above, the council shall disregard costs incurred by them in relation to street trading of the type described in subsection (1A) of section 2 (interpretation) of this Act.”.

(6) Renumber subsections (5) and (6) of section 27 (unlicensed street trading) as subsections (1) and (2) of a new section, headed ”27A Seizure".

(7) After subsection (2) in the new section 27A insert—

“(3) An authorised officer or constable may also seize any receptacle or equipment (other than a motor vehicle) which—

(a) is in a street; and

(b) he has reasonable cause to believe is intended to be used in connection with an offence under section 27 of this Act involving the sale, offer for sale, display, or exposing for sale of refreshments.”.

(8) Renumber subsection (7) of section 27 as subsection (4) of new section 27A.

(9) After new section 27A insert the following new section—

“27B Seizure: notices

(1) In this section ”relevant item" means—

(a) any receptacle used in the sale, offer for sale, display, or exposing for sale of refreshments which has been seized under subsection (1) or (2) of section 27A (seizure) of this Act;

(b) any receptacle or equipment seized under subsection (3) of that section.

(2) An authorised officer or a constable—

(a) may give a notice under this section to the person from whom a relevant item was seized under subsection (1) or (2) of section 27A (seizure) of this Act (but no such notice may be given under this paragraph in respect of a motor vehicle);

(b) shall give a notice under this section to the person from whom a relevant item was seized under subsection (3) of that section,

and any such notice must be given as soon as reasonably practicable after the item was seized.

(3) A notice under this section shall be in such form as the council may prescribe, and shall—

(a) explain that unless the recipient of the notice completes it in accordance with subsection (4) below and then returns it to the council in accordance with subsection (5) below, the council may dispose of the relevant item in question in accordance with section 27D (disposal of seized objects by council) of this Act; and

(b) set out—

(i) the address to which the completed notice should be returned;

(ii) the date by which it must be returned (which must be no earlier than the date on which expires the period of 14 days beginning with the date on which the notice was given under subsection (2) above).

(4) A notice under this section is completed by writing, in the appropriate place on the notice—

(a) the name and full postal address of the recipient of the notice under subsection (2) above; and

(b) (in the case of a notice given in accordance with subsection (2)(a) above) confirmation that that person—

(i) intends to contest any criminal proceedings brought in respect of the alleged offence in respect of which the item in question was seized; or

(ii) if not, that he requires the council to make a complaint for a disposal order under section 27I (disposal orders) of this Act in respect of the relevant item in question; and

(c) (in the case of a notice given in accordance with subsection (2)(b) above) confirmation that that person requires the council to make a complaint for a disposal order under the said section 27I in respect of the relevant item in question; and

(d) the signature of that person; and

(e) the date on which it was signed.

(5) A notice under this section, once completed, is returned by delivering it or sending it by post to the address set out on the notice as mentioned in subsection (3)(b)(i) above on or before the date as mentioned in that subsection.

(6) If a notice given in accordance with subsection (2) above is completed and returned in accordance with subsections (4) and (5) above the council must, no later than the date on which expires the period of 28 days beginning with the date on which the notice was received by them—

(a) make a complaint to the magistrates' court for a disposal order under section 27I (disposal orders) of this Act in respect of the relevant item in question; or

(b) return the relevant item in question to the person whose name and address are written on the returned notice,

unless, before the expiry of that period, an information has been laid and not withdrawn in respect of any alleged offence in respect of which the item was seized.”.

(10) For subsection (8)(a) of section 27 substitute the following as subsection (1) of a new section, headed ”27C Return of seized items"—

After new section 27A insert the following new section—

“(1) The provisions of this section shall have effect where any item is seized under subsection (1) of section 27A (seizure) of this Act (except where a notice is given under section 27B(2)(a) (seizure: notices) in respect of the item) or is seized and retained because it is required for evidential purposes under subsection (2) of the said section 27A and references in those provisions to proceedings are to proceedings in respect of the alleged offence in relation to which the item is seized.”.

(11) Renumber paragraphs (b) to (h) of section 27(8) as subsections (2) to (8) of the new section 27C.

(12) After new section 27C insert the following new section—

“27D Disposal of seized objects by council

(1) The council may, in such manner as they think fit, dispose of—

(a) any relevant item (within the meaning of section 27B (seizure: notices) of this Act) seized under subsection (1) or (2) of section 27A (seizure) of this Act if in respect of the alleged offence in question—

(i) a fixed penalty is paid in accordance with section 16 of the London Local Authorities Act 2004 (c. i) before the expiry of the period mentioned in subsection (2) of that section; and

(ii) the fixed penalty notice contained or was accompanied by written notice that the recipient could require the council on or before the time when the fixed penalty was paid to make a complaint for a disposal order under section 27I (disposal orders) of this Act in respect of the relevant item in question; and

(iii) no such requirement was made of the council on or before that time; or

(b) any such relevant item seized under subsection (1), (2) or (3) of the said section 27A if a notice was given under section 27B (seizure: notices) as soon as reasonably practicable after the article or thing was seized and the notice was not completed and returned to the council in accordance with subsections (4) and (5) of that section.

(2) The council may recover their costs of disposing of a relevant item under subsection (1) above from the person from whom the object was seized.

(3) Where a requirement of the sort mentioned under subsection (1)(a)(ii) was made on or before the time when the fixed penalty was paid, the council must make a complaint for a disposal order under section 27I (disposal orders) of this Act in respect of the relevant item in question.”.

(13) Renumber subsections (9), (10)(a) and (10)(b) of section 27 as subsections (1), (2) and (3) of a new section, headed ”27E Forfeiture of seized items by court".

(14) Renumber subsections (11)(a), (b) and (c) and (12) of section 27 as subsections (1) to (4) of a new section, headed ”27F Compensation" and—

(a) renumber subsections (11)(a)(i) and (ii) as subsections (1)(a) and (b); and

(b) renumber subsections (11)(a)(ii)(A) and (B) as subsections (1)(b)(i) and (ii).

(15) After paragraph (b)(ii) of new section 27F(1) as numbered by subsection (14) insert—

“(iii) (in the case of a relevant item (within the meaning of section 27B (seizure: notices) of this Act) seized under subsection (3) of section 27A (seizure) of this Act) the council has failed to comply with subsection (6) of section 27B (seizure: notices) of this Act.”.

(16) Renumber section 27A (seizure of perishable items) as section 27G.

(17) Renumber section 27B (motor vehicles) as section 27H.

(18) Renumber section 27C (disposal orders) as section 27I.

11 Minor and consequential amendments

Schedule 1 (which makes minor and consequential amendments to the City of Westminster Act 1999) has effect.

12 Keeling Schedule

The City of Westminster Act 1999 as amended by the London Local Authorities Act 2004, the Act of 2007 and this Act is set out in Schedule 2.

Street trading in the London Borough of Camden

13 Interpretation of Camden provisions

In sections 14 to 16—

• ”the Act of 1990" means the London Local Authorities Act 1990;

• ”the Borough" means the London Borough of Camden;

• ”the Council" means Camden London Borough Council;

• ”street" has the same meaning as in Part III of the Act of 1990.

14 Seizure of certain objects

(1) An authorised officer of the Council or a constable may in the Borough seize any receptacle or equipment (other than a motor vehicle) which—

(a) is in a street; and

(b) he has reasonable cause to believe is intended to be used in connection with an offence under section 38 (unlicensed street trading) of the Act of 1990 involving the sale, offer for sale, display, or exposing for sale of refreshments.

(2) An authorised officer shall produce his authority if requested to do so by the person having control or possession of any receptacle or equipment seized under subsection (1).

15 Seizure: notices

(1) In this section ”relevant item" means—

(a) any receptacle used or intended to be used in the Borough in the sale, offer for sale, display, or exposing for sale of refreshments which has been seized under subsection (4) or (4A) of section 38 (unlicensed street trading) of the Act of 1990;

(b) any receptacle or equipment seized under section 14.

(2) An authorised officer of the Council or a constable—

(a) may give a notice under this section to the person from whom a relevant item falling within subsection (1)(a) was seized (but no such notice may be given under this paragraph in respect of a motor vehicle);

(b) shall give a notice under this section to the person from whom a relevant item falling within subsection (1)(b) was seized under section 14,

and any such notice must be given as soon as reasonably practicable after the item was seized.

(3) A notice under this section shall be in such form as the Council may prescribe, and shall—

(a) explain that unless the recipient of the notice completes it in accordance with subsection (4) and then returns it to the Council in accordance with subsection (5), the Council may dispose of the relevant item in question in accordance with section 16; and

(b) set out—

(i) the address to which the completed notice should be returned;

(ii) the date by which it must be returned (which must be no earlier than the date on which expires the period of 14 days beginning with the date on which the notice was given under subsection (2) above).

(4) A notice under this section is completed by writing, in the appropriate place on the notice—

(a) the name and full postal address of the recipient of the notice under subsection (2); and

(b) (in the case of a notice given in accordance with subsection (2)(a)) confirmation—

(i) that that person intends to contest any criminal proceedings brought in respect of the alleged offence in respect of which the item in question was seized; or

(ii) if not, that he requires the Council to make a complaint for a disposal order under section 38C of the Act of 1990 (disposal orders) in respect of the relevant item in question; and

(c) (in the case of a notice given in accordance with subsection (2)(b) above) confirmation that that person requires the Council to make a complaint for a disposal order under the said section 38C in respect of the relevant item in question; and

(d) the signature of that person; and

(e) the date on which it was signed.

(5) A notice under this section, once completed, is returned by delivering it or sending it by post to the address set out on the notice as mentioned in subsection (3)(b)(i) on or before the date as mentioned in that subsection

(6) If a notice given in accordance with subsection (2) is completed and returned in accordance with subsections (4) and (5) the Council must, no later than the date on which expires the period of 28 days beginning with the date on which the notice was received by them—

(a) make a complaint to the magistrates' court for a disposal order under section 38C of the Act of 1990 in respect of the relevant item in question; or

(b) return the relevant item in question to the person whose name and address are written on the returned notice,

unless, before the expiry of that period, an information has been laid and not withdrawn in respect of any alleged offence in respect of which the item was seized.

(7) Any person who, in completing a notice under subsection (4) makes a statement which he knows to be false in a material particular shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

16 Return and disposal of seized objects by Council

(1) Subsection (4C)(a) of section 38 of the Act of 1990 (unlicensed street trading) shall apply as respects the Council as though after ”subsection (4) above" the words ”(except where notice is given under section 15(2)(a) of the London Local Authorities Act 2012 (seizure: notices))" were inserted.

(2) The Council may, in such manner as they think fit, dispose of—

(a) any relevant item (within the meaning of section 15) seized under subsection (4) or (4A) of section 38 of the Act of 1990 (unlicensed street trading) if—

(i) in respect of the alleged offence in question, a fixed penalty is paid in accordance with section 16 of the London Local Authorities Act 2004 before the expiry of the period mentioned in subsection (2) of that section; and

(ii) the fixed penalty notice contained or was accompanied by written notice that the recipient could require the Council on or before the time when the fixed penalty was paid to make a complaint for a disposal order under section 38C of the Act of 1990 (disposal orders) in respect of the relevant item in question; and

(iii) no such requirement was made of the Council on or before that time; or

(b) any such relevant item seized under subsection (4) or (4A) or under section 14 if a notice was given under section 15 as soon as reasonably practicable after the article or thing was seized and the notice was not completed and returned to the Council in accordance with subsections (4) and (5) of that section.

(3) The Council may recover their costs of disposing of a relevant item under subsection (2) above from the person from whom the object was seized.

(4) Where a requirement of the sort mentioned under subsection (2)(a)(ii) was made on or before the time when the fixed penalty was paid, the Council must make a complaint for a disposal order under section 38C of the Act of 1990 (disposal orders) in respect of the relevant item in question.

(5) Subsection (8)(a)(i) of section 38 shall apply as respects the Council as though at the end the words ”or under section 14 (seizure of certain objects) of the London Local Authorities Act 2012" were inserted.

(6) In addition to the alternative requirements as set out in subsection (8)(a)(ii)(A) and (B) of section 38, one of which must be satisfied before compensation may be recovered under that subsection, the following alternative requirement is added in relation to the Council—

“(C) (in the case of a relevant item (within the meaning of section 15 (seizure: notices) of the London Local Authorities Act 2012) seized under section 14 of that Act) the council has failed to comply with subsection (6) of the said section 15.”.

(7) Section 38C of the Act of 1990 (disposal orders) shall apply as respects the Council as though in subsection (1) the following paragraph were inserted after paragraph (b)— “”; or

(ba) a relevant item under subsection (3) of section 16 (return and disposal of seized objects by Council) of the London Local Authorities Act 2012,”.

PART 5 Miscellaneous and Supplemental

17 Minor amendments to London Local Authorities Act 2007, etc.

(1) In section 24(4) of the Act of 2007 (littering from vehicles), for ”subsection (2)" substitute ”subsection (4A)".

(2) In subsection (3A) of section 59 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (as inserted by section 25 (3) of the Act of 2007 (powers to require removal of waste unlawfully deposited)) for ”waste control authority" substitute ”waste collection authority".

18 Proof of resolution

In any proceedings which require proof of the passing of a resolution under this Act it shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, that the said resolution was duly passed and that any requirements relating to the passing of the resolution and the giving of any notices or information before or after the passing of the resolution were properly complied with.

19 Liability of directors, etc.

Where an offence under this Act committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent of a director of the body corporate, he, as well as the body corporate, shall be guilty of the offence.