Search Legislation

Highways Act 1980

 Help about what version

What Version

 Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

Changes to legislation:

Highways Act 1980, Section 6 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 18 April 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.

View outstanding changes

Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 6:

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):

6 Delegation etc. of functions with respect to trunk roads.E+W

(1)The Minister [F1or a strategic highways company] may by agreement with a county council, [F2a metropolitan district council], or a London borough council delegate to that council all or any of his [F3or its ] functions (including functions under a local or private Act) with respect to the maintenance and improvement of, and other dealing with, any trunk road or any land which does not form part of a trunk road but which has been acquired by him [F4or it ] in connection with a trunk road under section 239(2) or (4) or section 246 below;. . . F5

[F6(1A)The Minister [F7or a strategic highways company] shall not delegate functions to a council under subsection (1) above—

(a)with respect to a trunk road or land outside [F8that council's] area but within a non-metropolitan county or London borough, except with the consent of the council of that county or borough;

(b)with respect to a trunk road or land outside [F8that council's] area but within a metropolitan district except after consultation with the council of that district.]

[F9(1B)The Minister [F10or a strategic highways company ] shall not delegate functions to a council under subsection (1) above with respect to a trunk road or land outside [F11that council's]area but in Wales except after consultation with the Welsh council in whose area it is situated; and subsection (1A) does not apply in relation to a trunk road or land in Wales.]

(2)A council shall, in the exercise of any functions delegated to them under subsection (1) above, act as agents for the Minister [F12or a strategic highways company] and in accordance with such conditions as [F13may be attached] to the delegation, and among such conditions there shall be included the following—

(a)that the works to be executed and the expenditure to be incurred by the council in the discharge of the delegated functions shall be subject to the approval of the Minister [F12or a strategic highways company];

(b)that the council shall comply with any requirement of the Minister [F12or a strategic highways company] as to the manner in which any such works are to be carried out, and with any directions of the Minister [F12or a strategic highways company] as to the terms of contracts to be entered into for the purposes of the discharge of the delegated functions; and

(c)that any such works shall be completed to the satisfaction of the Minister [F12or a strategic highways company ].

(3)If at any time the Minister [F14or a strategic highways company] is satisfied that a trunk road or land with respect to which functions are delegated under subsection (1) above is not in proper repair and condition, he [F15or the company] may give notice to the council requiring them to place it in proper repair and condition within such time as may be specified in the notice, and if the notice is not complied with the Minister [F14or a strategic highways company] may do anything that seems to him [F16or the company] necessary to place the road or land in proper repair and condition.

(4)A delegation to a council under subsection (1) above may be determined by notice given by the Minister [F17or a strategic highways company] to the council during the first 9 months of any calendar year, or the functions so delegated may be relinquished by a notice given by the council to the Minister [F17or a strategic highways company] during any such period; and the notice shall take effect as from 1st April in the calendar year following that in which it is given.

(5)The Minister [F18or a strategic highways company] may enter into an agreement with a county council, [F19a metropolitan district council] or a London borough council—

(a)for the construction of a trunk road, or

(b)for the carrying out by [F20 the council] of any work of improvement of, or other dealing with, any trunk road or any such land as is mentioned in subsection (1) above;

and subsection (2) above applies to the discharge of the functions of a council under any such agreement and to the conditions to be included in any such agreement as it applies to the discharge of functions delegated under subsection (1) above to any such council and to the conditions to be attached to any such delegation.

(6)Where—

(a)any functions have been delegated by the Minister [F21or a strategic highways company] to a county council under subsection (1) above, or

(b)the Minister [F21or a strategic highways company] has entered into an agreement with a county council under subsection (5) above,

the county council [F22(the “responsible council”)] may, with the consent of the Minister [F21or a strategic highways company], enter into arrangements with a district council [F23or Welsh council (the “contracting council”)] for the carrying out by the [F24contracting]council, in accordance with the arrangements, of such of the delegated functions or, as the case may be, of the functions to which the agreement relates as may be specified in the arrangements;. . . F25

[F26(6A)No arrangements shall be entered into under subsection (6) above for the carrying out by a [F27contracting council] of any functions—

(a)with respect to a trunk road or land outside their area but within a non-metropolitan district, except with the consent of the council of the non-metropolitan district;

(b)with respect to a trunk road or land outside their area but within a metropolitan district, except after consultation with the council of the metropolitan district.]

[F28(c)with respect to a trunk road or land in Wales but outside the area—

(i)of the responsible council; and

(ii)of the contracting council,

except after consultation with the Welsh council in whose area the trunk road or land is situated.]

(7)Plant or materials belonging to a council by whom functions fall to be exercised by virtue of a delegation, or agreement or arrangements under this section may be used by them for the purposes of those functions subject to the terms of the delegation, or agreement or arrangements.

(8)Nothing in this section limits the power of the Minister [F29or a strategic highways company ] to enter into and carry into effect agreements with any person for any purpose connected with the construction, improvement or maintenance of, or other dealing with, a trunk road or otherwise connected with his [F30or the company's] functions relating to trunk roads under this or any other Act; but no such agreement shall provide for the delegation of powers or duties of the Minister [F29or a strategic highways company] except in accordance [F31with

(a)the provisions of this section; or

(b)the provisions of any order made under section 69 of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994.]

Textual Amendments

F22Words in s. 6(6) inserted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 19, s. 22(1), Sch. 7 Pt. I para. (3)(a) (with s. 54(7), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1996/396, art. 3, Sch.1.

F31Words in s. 6(8) substituted (25.7.1995) by S.I. 1995/1986, art. 3.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1S. 6 restricted (13.2.1992) by Severn Bridges Act 1992 (c. 3), s. 15(6)

C3S. 6 functions made exercisable concurrently (9.2.2017) by The West of England Combined Authority Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/126), arts. 1(3), 9(1)

C10S. 6: functions made exercisable concurrently (20.12.2023) by The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/1432), arts. 1(2), 14

C11S. 6: functions made exercisable concurrently (28.2.2024) by The East Midlands Combined County Authority Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/232), regs. 1(2), 16

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

You have chosen to open The Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act as a PDF

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act without Schedules

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act without Schedules as a PDF

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open the Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open the Whole Act without Schedules

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open Schedules only

The Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources