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Local Government (Wales) Act 2015

2015 anaw 6

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.

[25 November 2015]

Having been passed by the National Assembly for Wales and having received the assent of Her Majesty, it is enacted as follows:

IntroductoryE+W

1OverviewE+W

F1(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2)This Act also makes other amendments to local government law; and more specifically—

F2(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F3(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F4(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(d)section 42 amends the provisions relating to surveys of councillors and unsuccessful candidates for election as councillors;

F5(e). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F62Main definitionsE+W

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Voluntary mergers of local authoritiesE+W

F63Proposals for mergerE+W

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F64Consultation before making merger applicationE+W

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F65Guidance about merger applicationsE+W

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F66Power to make merger regulationsE+W

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F67Shadow authoritiesE+W

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F68Elections and councillorsE+W

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F69Mayor and cabinet executive model authoritiesE+W

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F610Other consequential etc. provisionE+W

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Transition committeesE+W

F611Transition committeesE+W

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F612Composition of transition committeesE+W

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F613Functions of transition committeesE+W

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F614Sub-committees of transition committeesE+W

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F615Provision of funding, facilities and information to transition committeesE+W

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Electoral arrangements etc. for new principal areasE+W

F616Directions to conduct initial reviewE+W

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F617Directions and guidance to CommissionE+W

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F618Conduct of initial reviewE+W

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F619Pre-review procedureE+W

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F620Consultation and investigationE+W

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F621Reporting on initial reviewE+W

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F622Implementation by Welsh MinistersE+W

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F623Electoral regulations if no recommendations madeE+W

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F624Future review periodsE+W

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Remuneration etc. arrangements for new principal local authoritiesE+W

F625Directions to Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales to perform relevant functionsE+W

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F626Reports of PanelE+W

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F627Directions and guidance to PanelE+W

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F628Pay policy statementsE+W

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Restraints on transactions and recruitment etc. by merging authoritiesE+W

F629Restraining transactions and recruitment etc. by directionE+W

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F630Directions under section 29(1): supplementaryE+W

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F631Directions under section 29(1): further provision about reservesE+W

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F632Directions under section 29(3): supplementaryE+W

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F633Directions: consequences of contraventionE+W

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F634Interpretation of sections 29 to 36E+W

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F635Determining whether financial limits have been exceededE+W

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F636Guidance in relation to transactions, recruitment etc.E+W

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Information requirementsE+W

F637Requirement on merging authority to provide information to Welsh MinistersE+W

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F638Requirement on merging authority to provide information to other authoritiesE+W

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Other provisions relating to Independent Remuneration Panel for WalesE+W

F639Temporary extension of functions of Panel relating to heads of paid service to chief officersE+W

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F740Changes to duty to have regard to Panel recommendations about salariesE+W

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F841Panel membershipE+W

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MiscellaneousE+W

42Survey of councillors and unsuccessful candidates for election as councillorsE+W

(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)After subsection (3) insert—

(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 2013E+W

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SupplementaryE+W

F1044RegulationsE+W

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F1145InterpretationE+W

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46CommencementE+W

(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 titleE+W

The short title of this Act is the Local Government (Wales) Act 2015.