Courts Act 1971

Premises acquired by Secretary of State

2 (1) Before any premises used for the business of the abolished courts are purchased by the Secretary of State, the Lord Chancellor shall consult any magistrates' courts committee concerned.

(2) A local authority owning any premises used for the business of the abolished courts shall have power to sell, lease or otherwise dispose of the premises to the Secretary of State, notwithstanding that they are subject to any trust, or have been dedicated to the public.

(3) Sub-paragraph (2) above shall not be construed as authorising the extinction or curtailment of any public right of way over any part of premises so acquired.

(4) It is hereby declared that any responsibility of a local authority to provide a court room or other accommodation for any magistrates' court remains unaffected by the acquisition, whether by agreement or compulsorily, by the Secretary of State of any premises used for any such purpose, and accordingly where the Secretary of State acquires any premises the power of the Secretary of State to make the premises available for continued use, to any extent, by a magistrates' court does not affect the local authority's responsibility, or absolve them from the duty to pay a proper rent for the accommodation, on such terms and subject to such conditions as may be agreed.