Childcare Act 2006

4 Duty of local authority and relevant partners to work together

(1) For the purposes of this section each of the following is a relevant partner of an English local authority—

(a) a Strategic Health Authority or Primary Care Trust for an area any part of which falls within the area of the local authority;3

(b) the Secretary of State, in relation to his functions under section 2 of the Employment and Training Act 1973 (c. 50).

(2) An English local authority must make arrangements to work with each of the authority’s relevant partners in the performance by the authority of their duties under sections 1 and 3.

(3) Each of the relevant partners of an English local authority must work with the authority and with the other relevant partners in the making of the arrangements.

(4) An English local authority and each of their relevant partners may for the purposes of arrangements under this section—

(a) provide staff, goods, services, accommodation or other resources;

(b) establish and maintain a pooled fund.

(5) For the purposes of subsection (4) a pooled fund is a fund—

(a) which is made up of contributions by the authority and the relevant partner or partners concerned, and

(b) out of which payments may be made towards expenditure incurred in the discharge of functions of the authority and functions of the relevant partner or partners.

(6) An English local authority and each of their relevant partners falling within subsection (1)(a) must, in exercising their functions under this section, have regard to any guidance given from time to time by the Secretary of State.