3.The Act gives effect to the commitments made by the Scottish Government as part of Glasgow’s bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games. It provides the Scottish Ministers, Councils and the Organising Committee with the powers necessary to ensure the delivery of the Games. It also provides the legislative framework needed to enable the Scottish Government to fulfil the requirements which the Commonwealth Games Federation place on host cities.
4.The main measures of the Act:
Create new criminal offences prohibiting unauthorised advertising and outdoor trading within the vicinity of Games locations, with penalties on summary conviction of a fine not exceeding £20,000 or an unlimited fine on conviction on indictment;
Create a new criminal offence to prohibit the unauthorised sale of Games tickets in public, in excess of face value or with a view to making a profit, with penalties on summary conviction of a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (currently £5,000);
Provide for the designation of enforcement officers empowered to enforce the Games advertising, street trading and ticket touting offences, and make it a criminal offence to obstruct them in their duties, with penalties on summary conviction of a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale;
Provide councils with the power to make Games traffic regulation orders;
Provide the Scottish Ministers with the power to direct councils to make, vary or revoke any instrument which regulates road use in relation to the Transport Plan for the Games;
Provide councils with the power to issue a Compulsory Purchase Order for land within their area which they believe is required for Games purposes;
Provide the Scottish Ministers with powers to pay grants and provide other forms of assistance to the Organising Committee of the Games and set conditions on such assistance; and
Provide the Scottish Ministers with the power to repeal the Act from the statute book once the Games have ended.