The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 1992

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes new provision with respect to the way district councils exercise certain of their activities, confers new powers in relation to district councils and makes miscellaneous amendments to the law relating to local government.

Part II of this Order and Schedule 1 secure that district councils undertake certain activities only if they can do so competitively. Part III regulates certain functions of district councils in connection with public supply or works contracts. Part IV enables the Department of the Environment to establish a scheme to give financial assistance to district councils in respect of expenditure incurred in cases of emergencies or disasters and confers a power on district councils to promote safety in the home and the economic development of their districts.

Part V makes miscellaneous amendments to the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 and to other statutory provisions relating to district councils. The principal amendments concern—

(a) the issue of a code of local government conduct for members and officers of district councils (Articles 29 and 35);

(b) the restriction on members of committees, who are not councillors, from voting on matters before the committee (Article 32);

(c) the adoption of procedural standing orders (Article 33);

(d) the transfer of officers exercising functions on behalf of 2 or more councils back to individual councils (Article 35);

(e) the inspection by councillors, local electors and other ratepayers of accounts and other documents, other than documents relating to records of officers (Articles 36 and 37);

(f) the power of the local government auditor to issue a prohibition notice to prevent an unlawful expenditure or loss or deficiency (Article 38);

(g) the enforcement of bye-laws by constables (Article 39);

(h) the prohibition of political publicity (Article 41); and

(i) the practice of acupuncture by physiotherapists and chiropodists (Article 50).