Part 7Best value
Duties of best value authorities
137Guidance about general best value duty
In section 3 of the Local Government Act 1999 (c. 27) (best value authorities: general duty), for subsection (4) substitute—
4
In deciding—
a
how to fulfil the duty arising under subsection (1),
b
who to consult under subsection (2), or
c
the form, content and timing of consultations under that subsection,
an authority must have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.
138Involvement of local representatives
1
After section 3 of the Local Government Act 1999 insert—
3AInvolvement of local representatives
1
Where a best value authority considers it appropriate for representatives of local persons (or of local persons of a particular description) to be involved in the exercise of any of its functions by being—
a
provided with information about the exercise of the function,
b
consulted about the exercise of the function, or
c
involved in another way,
it must take such steps as it considers appropriate to secure that such representatives are involved in the exercise of the function in that way.
2
Subsection (1) does not require an authority to take a step—
a
if the authority does not have power to take the step under another enactment or a rule of law; or
b
if the step would be incompatible with a Community obligation or any other duty imposed on the authority under another enactment or a rule of law.
3
Subsection (1) does not apply—
a
to a police authority,
b
to a Welsh best value authority,
c
to any other authority or description of authority specified in an order made by the Secretary of State, or
d
in any other case specified in such an order.
4
An order under subsection (3)(d) may specify cases by reference, in particular, to the following—
a
best value authorities or descriptions of best value authority;
b
functions of best value authorities;
c
descriptions of local person;
d
ways in which representatives may be involved in the exercise of functions of an authority.
5
In deciding how to fulfil its duties under subsection (1), an authority must have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.
6
In this section—
“enactment” includes subordinate legislation (within the meaning of section 21 of the Interpretation Act 1978);
“local person” means, in relation to a function of a best value authority, a person who is likely to be affected by, or interested in, the exercise of the function;
“representative” means, in relation to local persons or a description of local person, a person who appears to the best value authority to be representative of the local persons.
2
In section 28(2) of that Act (negative procedure for certain orders and regulations), after first “section” insert “
3A,
”
.
139Abolition of performance indicators etc except for Welsh authorities
1
Immediately before section 4 of the Local Government Act 1999 (c. 27) insert “
Duties: Welsh best value authorities
”
.
2
In section 4 of that Act (performance indicators and standards)—
a
in subsection (1)(a), for “best value authority's” substitute “
Welsh best value authority's
”
;
b
in subsections (1)(b), (3)(a) and (4)(a), for “best value authorities” substitute “
Welsh best value authorities
”
;
c
in subsection (5), for “best value authority” substitute “
Welsh best value authority
”
.
3
In section 6 of that Act (performance plans), in subsection (1), for “best value authority” substitute “
Welsh best value authority
”
.
140Abolition of best value performance reviews
Omit section 5 of the Local Government Act 1999 (best value reviews).