PART VIAllowances to Members of Local Authorities and other bodies.

119Expenses incurred by members of councils in Scotland in attending conferences, &c.

1

There may, subject to such limitation with respect to numbers as may be prescribed by the Secretary of State, be paid—

a

allowances in respect of expenses reasonably incurred by members of a county, town or district council in Scotland or any committee thereof (including any committee to which section fifty-two of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1947 applies) or of any sub-committee thereof in respect of attendance at a conference or meeting held for the purpose of discussing any matter connected with the discharge of the functions of the council or of the committee or sub-committee, and convened by one or more such councils or by any -other body or association for the time being recognised by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this section ; and

b

any reasonable expenses incurred in purchasing reports of the proceedings of any such conference or meeting :

Provided that—

i

no such allowance in respect of any matter referred to in section one hundred and twelve or in section one hundred and thirteen of this Act shall exceed the rate prescribed therefor by that section ; and

ii

nothing in this section shall affect the provisions of any other enactment authorising the payment of expenses incurred by members of a county, town or district council or of any committee or sub-committee thereof in attending any conference or meeting or authorise any such council to defray any expenses to which such enactment applies, except in accordance with the provisions of that enactment.

2

A county council may pay to the convener of the county and a town council may pay to the provost of the burgh for the purpose of enabling the convener or provost, as the case "may be, to meet the special expenses of his office such allowance as the council may think reasonable.

3

A district council in Scotland may make annual or other contributions towards the expenses of any association of such councils approved by the Secretary of State and consisting of representatives of a majority of such councils and formed for the purpose of considering matters connected with their statutory functions and other matters relating to local government in Scotland, not being matters connected with statutory functions exercisable only by other local authorities :

Provided that such contributions shall not exceed such limits as may from time to time be prescribed by the Secretary of State after consultation with the said association.

4

Any expenditure incurred under subsection (1) of this section in relation to a conference or meeting shall be defrayed as part of such branch or branches of expenditure as the council may determine, having regard to the, purpose for which the conference or meeting is held, and any expenditure incurred under subsection (2) of this section shall be defrayed as general' expenses of the council.