Local Government in Scotland Act 2003

20 Power to advance well-being

(1) A local authority has power to do anything which it considers is likely to promote or improve the well-being of—

(a) its area and persons within that area; or

(b) either of those.

(2) The power under subsection (1) above includes power to—

(a) incur expenditure,

(b) give financial assistance to any person,

(c) enter into arrangements or agreements with any person,

(d) co-operate with, or facilitate or co-ordinate the activities of, any person,

(e) exercise on behalf of any person any functions of that person, and

(f) provide staff, goods, materials, facilities, services or property to any person.

(3) The power under subsection (1) above may be exercised in relation to, or for the benefit of—

(a) the whole or any part of the area of the local authority;

(b) all or some of the persons within that area.

(4) The power under subsection (1) above includes power to do anything—

(a) in relation to, or for the benefit of, any persons or place outwith the area of the local authority; or

(b) in any such place,

if the authority considers that doing so is likely to achieve the purpose set out in that subsection.

(5) The Scottish Ministers may, by order, extend the meaning of “well-being” for the purposes of this section.

(6) Such an order shall be made by statutory instrument but not unless a draft of it has been laid before and approved by resolution of the Scottish Parliament.

(7) Before laying such a statutory instrument, the Scottish Ministers shall consult such associations of local authorities as they think fit.