Local Government (Wales) Act 2015
An Act of the National Assembly for Wales to make provision for and in connection with a reduction in the number of principal local authorities in Wales and to make other amendments of local government law as it applies in relation to Wales.
Having been passed by the National Assembly for Wales and having received the assent of Her Majesty, it is enacted as follows:
Introductory
1Overview
F1(1)
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(2)
This Act also makes other amendments to local government law; and more specifically—
F2(a)
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F3(b)
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F4(c)
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(d)
section 42 amends the provisions relating to surveys of councillors and unsuccessful candidates for election as councillors;
F5(e)
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F62Main definitions
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Voluntary mergers of local authorities
F63Proposals for merger
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F64Consultation before making merger application
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F65Guidance about merger applications
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F66Power to make merger regulations
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F67Shadow authorities
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F68Elections and councillors
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F69Mayor and cabinet executive model authorities
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F610Other consequential etc. provision
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Transition committees
F611Transition committees
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F612Composition of transition committees
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F613Functions of transition committees
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F614Sub-committees of transition committees
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F615Provision of funding, facilities and information to transition committees
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Electoral arrangements etc. for new principal areas
F616Directions to conduct initial review
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F617Directions and guidance to Commission
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F618Conduct of initial review
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F619Pre-review procedure
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F620Consultation and investigation
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F621Reporting on initial review
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F622Implementation by Welsh Ministers
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F623Electoral regulations if no recommendations made
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F624Future review periods
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Remuneration etc. arrangements for new principal local authorities
F625Directions to Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales to perform relevant functions
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F626Reports of Panel
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F627Directions and guidance to Panel
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F628Pay policy statements
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Restraints on transactions and recruitment etc. by merging authorities
F629Restraining transactions and recruitment etc. by direction
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F630Directions under section 29(1): supplementary
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F631Directions under section 29(1): further provision about reserves
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F632Directions under section 29(3): supplementary
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F633Directions: consequences of contravention
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F634Interpretation of sections 29 to 36
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F635Determining whether financial limits have been exceeded
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F636Guidance in relation to transactions, recruitment etc.
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Information requirements
F637Requirement on merging authority to provide information to Welsh Ministers
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F638Requirement on merging authority to provide information to other authorities
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Other provisions relating to Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales
F639Temporary extension of functions of Panel relating to heads of paid service to chief officers
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F740Changes to duty to have regard to Panel recommendations about salaries
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F841Panel membership
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Miscellaneous
42Survey of councillors and unsuccessful candidates for election as councillors
(1)
Section 1 of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 (duty to conduct survey of councillors and unsuccessful candidates for election as councillors) is amended as follows.
(2)
In subsection (2) (local authority to conduct survey after each ordinary election), for “after” substitute “
, or arrange for the conduct of a survey, in relation to
”
.
(3)
“(3A)
A survey in the case of an ordinary election may be conducted—
(a)
entirely after the ordinary election, or
(b)
by asking the candidates for election to the office of councillor to answer the prescribed questions before the ordinary election and collating the information provided afterwards.”
(4)
In subsection (5) (no duty to provide information) for “a councillor or an unsuccessful candidate for election to the office of councillor” substitute “
any individual
”
.
(5)
Omit subsection (6) (local authority to arrange for information to be provided anonymously).
F943Proposals submitted before commencement of Part 3 of Local Government (Democracy) (Wales) Act 2013
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Supplementary
F1044Regulations
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F1145Interpretation
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46Commencement
(1)
Sections 25 to 28 and 37 to 43 come into force at the end of the period of 2 months beginning with the day on which this Act receives Royal Assent.
(2)
Subject to that, this Act comes into force on the day following that on which this Act receives Royal Assent.
47Short title
The short title of this Act is the Local Government (Wales) Act 2015.