Greater London Authority (Referendum) Act 1998

Part II Advice on Electoral Arrangements for Greater London Authority

7 Functions of the Local Government Commission

(1) If the Secretary of State so directs, the Local Government Commission for England (in this Part referred to as “the Commission”) shall, in accordance with this Part and any directions given under it, submit to him a report—

(a) showing the electoral areas into which it recommends that Greater London should be divided for the purposes of the election of members of any assembly established following the referendum held by virtue of Part I,

(b) specifying the number of members that it recommends should be elected for each such electoral area, and

(c) stating the name by which it recommends that each such electoral area should be known.

(2) A direction under subsection (1) shall specify—

(a) the total number of electoral areas, and

(b) the total number of members,

for which the recommendations contained in the Commission’s report must provide.

8 Preparation and submission of report

(1) A direction to submit a report under section 7(1) shall specify the timetable in accordance with which the report is to be prepared, submitted and available for inspection under this Part (“the timetable”).

(2) As soon as reasonably practicable after being directed to submit a report under section 7(1), the Commission shall take such steps as it considers sufficient to secure that persons who may be interested in the subject-matter of the report are informed of—

(a) the direction requiring the report to be submitted, including, in particular, the period specified in the timetable within which representations with respect to the subject-matter of the report may be made to the Commission, and

(b) any direction under section 10.

(3) Before submitting its report, the Commission shall—

(a) take into consideration any representations made to it within the period mentioned in subsection (2)(a);

(b) prepare a draft report and take such steps as it considers sufficient to secure that persons who may be interested in the report are informed of it and of the period specified in the timetable within which representations with respect to it may be made;

(c) deposit copies of the draft report at the principal office of—

(i) each London borough council, and

(ii) the Common Council of the City of London; and

(d) take into consideration representations made to the Commission within the period mentioned in paragraph (b).

(4) As soon as the Commission is in a position to submit its report to the Secretary of State (and in any event not later than the date specified in the timetable for submission of the report), it shall—

(a) submit the report to him,

(b) take such steps as it considers sufficient to secure that persons who may be interested in the report are informed of it and of the period specified in the timetable within which it may be inspected; and

(c) deposit copies of the report at the principal office of—

(i) each London borough council, and

(ii) the Common Council of the City of London.

(5) Copies of the draft report deposited under subsection (3)(c), and of the report deposited under subsection (4)(c), shall be kept available for inspection at the offices concerned in accordance with the timetable.

9 Supplementary report

(1) Where a report is submitted to the Secretary of State in accordance with a direction under section 7(1), he may, if he thinks fit, direct the Commission—

(a) to review such of the recommendations made in the report as may be specified in the direction, and

(b) to submit a further report making revised recommendations as respects—

(i) the electoral areas into which Greater London, or such part of it as may be specified in the direction, should be divided for the purposes of the election of members,

(ii) the number of members that should be elected for each such electoral area, and

(iii) the name by which each such electoral area should be known.

(2) A direction under subsection (1) shall specify—

(a) the total number of electoral areas, and

(b) the total number of members,

for which the recommendations contained in the Commission’s further report must provide.

(3) Section 8 shall apply in relation to any further report with such modifications as may be specified in the direction under subsection (1) above.

10 Directions

The Secretary of State may give directions as to the exercise by the Commission of any functions under this Part; and, in particular, the directions may—

(a) specify matters which the Commission must take into account in preparing a report;

(b) require the Commission to have regard to any guidance given by the Secretary of State as respects matters to be taken into account in preparing a report.

11 Payments by Secretary of State to Commission

The Secretary of State may pay to the Commission such amount as he may determine to be the amount required by the Commission for carrying out its functions under this Part.