Local Government Finance Act 1988

Part VIII General

Exclusion of certain matters

24 Regulations under this Schedule may provide that any matter which could be the subject of an appeal under section 23 above may not be raised in proceedings under the regulations.

Costs

25 Regulations under this Schedule may provide that where a charging authority has received in proceedings under the regulations an amount by way of costs it shall pay an amount (determined in accordance with prescribed rules) to a prescribed person for the benefit of such court as is identified in accordance with prescribed rules.

Termination of proceedings

26 (1) Regulations under this Schedule may provide that in a case where—

(a) proceedings under the regulations have been taken as regards the recovery of any sum mentioned in paragraph 1(1) above, and

(b) the outstanding amount is paid or tendered to the person to whom it is payable,

that person shall accept the amount, no further steps shall be taken as regards its recovery, and any person committed to prison in pursuance of the proceedings shall be released.

(2) The outstanding amount is an amount equal to the sum concerned or to so much of it as remains outstanding (as the case may be).

(3) In a case where costs and charges are relevant the outstanding amount shall be treated as augmented by a sum (of an amount determined in accordance with prescribed rules) in respect of costs and charges incurred in the proceedings up to the time of payment or tender.

Offences

27 (1) Regulations under this Schedule may provide that a person shall be guilty of an offence if he is required by any provision included under paragraph 4 above to supply information and—

(a) he fails without reasonable excuse to supply the information in accordance with the provision, or

(b) in supplying information in purported compliance with the provision he makes a statement which he knows to be false in a material particular or recklessly makes a statement which is false in a material particular.

(2) Regulations under this Schedule may provide that—

(a) a person shall be guilty of an offence if he is required by any provision included under paragraph 5(1)(d) or (2)(b) above to comply with an attachment of earnings order and fails to do so;

(b) it shall be a defence for a person charged with such an offence to prove that he took all reasonable steps to comply with the order.

(3) Regulations under this Schedule may provide that a person shall be guilty of an offence if he is required by any provision included under paragraph 5(2)(g) or (h) or (3)(a) or (b) above to notify another person and—

(a) he fails without reasonable excuse to notify the other person in accordance with the provision, or

(b) in notifying the other person in purported compliance with the provision he makes a statement which he knows to be false in a material particular or recklessly makes a statement which is false in a material particular.

(4) Regulations under this Schedule may provide that a person guilty of an offence under any provision included under sub-paragraphs (1) to (3) above shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding—

(a) level 2 on the standard scale (where the provision is included under sub-paragraph (1)(a) or (3)(a) above), or

(b) level 3 on the standard scale (where the provision is included under sub-paragraph (1)(b), (2) or (3)(b) above).

(5) References in this paragraph to any provision included under paragraph 4 or 5 above include references to any equivalent provision included under paragraph 15, 19 or 23 above.

Other enactments

28 (1) Regulations under this Schedule may apply any provision contained in or made under a relevant enactment, or may apply any such provision subject to prescribed modifications, or may contain provision equivalent to any such provision (whether or not subject to prescribed modifications).

(2) Relevant enactments are Part VI of the [1967 c. 9.] General Rate Act 1967, the [1971 c. 32.] Attachment of Earnings Act 1971, Part III of the [1975 c. 14.] Social Security Act 1975, the [1979 c. 53.] Charging Orders Act 1979, and any enactment applied by any of those enactments.