124Proposal for multi-area agreement
(1)The local authorities for an area proposed to be covered by a multi-area agreement (“the proposed area”) may request the Secretary of State to give a direction under section 125 for the preparation and submission of a draft multi-area agreement for the proposed area.
(2)The local authorities making the request—
(a)must include all of the local authorities for the proposed area, other than any non-unitary district council for that area;
(b)may include any non-unitary district council for that area.
(3)In this Part “non-unitary district council” means a district council for an area that is part of the area of a county council.
(4)The request must be made in writing and must—
(a)identify the local authorities making the request,
(b)nominate one of them to be responsible for preparing and submitting the draft, and
(c)identify the proposed area.
(5)The local authorities making the request must have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State about such requests.