Heat Networks (Scotland) Act 2021

20 Designation of local authority as consent authority for the area of the local authority

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations designate a local authority as the consent authority for the area of the local authority for the purposes of this Part.

(2) Where a local authority makes a written request to the Scottish Ministers that it be designated under subsection (1) as the consent authority for its area, the Scottish Ministers must make regulations under subsection (1) so designating the local authority before the expiry of the period of 6 months beginning with the day on which the request was made unless the local authority has withdrawn the request in writing.

(3) Regulations under subsection (1) may make provision modifying this Part and Part 7 in consequence of the designation made by the regulations.

(4) Before making regulations under subsection (1), the Scottish Ministers must consult—

(a) the local authority whom the regulations would (if made) designate as the consent authority for its area, and

(b) such other persons as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.

(5) Where regulations under subsection (1) are subject to the affirmative procedure, the references in subsections (2) and (4) to making regulations under subsection (1) are to be read as references to laying a draft of a Scottish statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (1) before the Scottish Parliament.