Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021

105 Direction to co-operate with provision of support and assistance

(1) The Welsh Ministers may direct a principal council (“the supported council”) to co-operate with—

(a) the Welsh Ministers;

(b) a principal council acting under a direction under section 103,

for the purposes of enabling support and assistance to be provided to the supported council.

(2) When a direction under this section has effect the supported council must provide a person referred to in subsection (1)(a) or (b) with the following things, to the extent the person considers necessary for the purposes of providing support and assistance to the council—

(a) access to its premises;

(b) access to documents held by it (and the supported council must allow the person to take copies of those documents);

(c) other information;

(d) facilities and assistance.

(3) But subsection (2) does not require a council to provide, or provide access to, anything that the council is prohibited from providing or providing access to by any enactment or rule of law.

(4) A direction under this section may require a supported council to co-operate with a person referred to in subsection (1)(a) or (b) by taking steps specified in the direction, including—

(a) entering into a contract or other agreement or arrangement (and the direction may specify its terms and conditions) with that person;

(b) allowing that person to facilitate or co-ordinate any of the council’s activities.

(5) In subsection (1)(a) and (b), the references to the Welsh Ministers and a principal council acting under a direction under section 103 include a person acting on behalf of, assisting or authorised by them.