Section 129: Alternative procedure for byelaws
339.This section inserts a new section 236A into the Local Government Act 1972. This will give the Secretary of State, in relation to England, the power to make regulations prescribing classes of byelaws which can be made using the procedure described in the regulations rather than the procedure in section 236 of that Act. The intention is that regulations will prescribe a procedure which does not require the byelaw to be confirmed by the Secretary of State. It will be possible for the classes of byelaw to which the alternative procedures will apply to be described in different ways – by reference to one or more of the enabling power for the byelaws, their subject matter, and the authority empowered to make or confirm the byelaws. This approach has been taken to ensure that regulations can describe clearly which byelaws will be subject to the alternative procedures, and, therefore, ensure certainty as to which local authority byelaws will continue to be subject to the procedure in section 236 of the Local Government Act 1972.
340.In prescribing the alternative procedures to be followed, the section empowers the Secretary of State to include in regulations provision on the consultation procedures which local authorities should follow before a byelaw is made, and on local publicity after a new byelaw has been made.