Anticipatory exercise of regulatory functions

2.—(1) In relation to any function (other than a function under the Town and Country Planning Act 1971) of granting, renewing, extending, varying or transferring a licence, permission, consent, approval, certificate, authorisation, exemption, dispensation or relaxation (in this article referred to as a “permission”) which on the abolition date by virtue of any provision made by or under the Act becomes the function of a successor authority, that authority may, before that date, for the purpose of giving full effect to any such permission in respect of any period beginning on or after that date, entertain any application or objection, serve or receive any notice, undertake any consultation or take any other step necessary to grant, renew, extend, vary or transfer such permission in respect of such a period, or for giving full effect on and after that date to any statutory provision conferring such a function.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), the Greater London Council and each metropolitan county council shall supply to the successor authority by which the relevant function will fall to be discharged on and after 1st April 1986 a copy of any application, objection, notice or other document which—

(a) relates to a permission for such a period as is mentioned in that paragraph, or

(b) in their opinion may fall to be dealt with in relation to such a period.

(3) Where in pursuance of paragraph (1) a successor authority grants a permission to an applicant in respect of a matter for which that applicant has, in respect of the whole or part of the period of the permission and in exercise of the same function, also been granted a permission by the Greater London Council or a metropolitan county council, section 98 of the Act shall not apply to continue the second-mentioned permission in effect during any period in which the first-mentioned permission has effect.