(1)The Chief Inspector may at any time require any person within subsection (2) to provide him with any information, documents or other items—
(a)which relates or relate to the performance by a local authority in England of any of the functions to which this Chapter applies or any related activity, and
(b)which the Chief Inspector considers it necessary or expedient to have for the purposes of, or in connection with, the performance by him of any function under this Chapter.
(2)The persons within this subsection are—
(a)the local authority;
(b)any person with whom the authority have entered into arrangements—
(i)in the performance of any of the functions to which this Chapter applies, or
(ii)in connection with any related activity.
(3)The power in subsection (1) includes, in relation to documents kept by means of a computer, power to require them to be produced in a form in which they are legible and can be taken away.
(4)Any person who without reasonable excuse fails to comply with any requirement imposed by virtue of this section is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.