Section 309: Further amendments to the RDA Act
459.Section 309 introducesSchedule 25 to the Act.
460.Paragraphs 4 to 9 of Schedule 25 provide that the financial provisions in sections 9 to 14 of the RDA Act are not to apply to the LDA. The finances of the LDA will instead be governed by the provisions of Part III of this Act. Paragraph 5 ensures that any grants made, under section 10 of the RDA Act, to the Authority by the Secretary of State, are for the purposes of the London Development Agency. This provision, together with the provisions of section 103, ensures that any such grants are paid by the Authority to the Agency.
461.Paragraphs 3 and 10 to 12 of Schedule 25 contain provisions on the accountability of the LDA. There will be no Regional Chamber for the LDA, as provided for in sections 8 and 18 of the RDA Act in relation to other RDAs.
462.The Mayor may specify the form and contents of the LDA's annual report, required by section 17 of the RDA Act. The report is to be sent to the Mayor and Assembly (rather than be sent to the Secretary of State and laid before Parliament). The Mayor must arrange for it to be published.
463.The Mayor may give such directions and guidance to the LDA on the exercise of its functions as he sees fit.
464.Other provisions in Schedule 25 concerning the accountability of the LDA are contained in the provisions of the Act on the provision of information, advice and assistance by functional bodies, power to require attendance at Assembly meetings and investigation of functional bodies by the Commission for Local Administration.
465.Paragraphs 2 and 13 to 15 of Schedule 25 contain further amendments to the RDA Act. Section 5 of the RDA Act requires the Secretary of State's consent before a RDA forms or acquires an interest in a company. The LDA must seek the Mayor's consent for such actions.
466.Orders made by the LDA as respects the compulsory purchase of land and changes in the name of the LDA may only be submitted to the Secretary of State for approval with the consent of the Mayor.
467.The provision in section 25 of the RDA Act for altering the regions of the regional development agencies will not apply to the London region, so that the region of the LDA will remain identical to that of Greater London.
