Localism Act 2011

13 Economic prosperity boards and combined authorities

(1) In Part 6 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (economic prosperity boards and combined authorities) after section 113 insert—

“General powers of EPBs and combined authorities

113A General power of EPB or combined authority

(1) An EPB or combined authority may do—

(a) anything it considers appropriate for the purposes of the carrying-out of any of its functions (its “functional purposes”),

(b) anything it considers appropriate for purposes incidental to its functional purposes,

(c) anything it considers appropriate for purposes indirectly incidental to its functional purposes through any number of removes,

(d) anything it considers to be connected with—

(i) any of its functions, or

(ii) anything it may do under paragraph (a), (b) or (c), and

(e) for a commercial purpose anything which it may do under any of paragraphs (a) to (d) otherwise than for a commercial purpose.

(2) Where subsection (1) confers power on an EPB or combined authority to do something, it confers power (subject to section 113B) to do it anywhere in the United Kingdom or elsewhere.

(3) Power conferred on an EPB or combined authority by subsection (1) is in addition to, and is not limited by, its other powers.

113B Boundaries of power under section 113A

(1) Section 113A(1) does not enable an EPB or combined authority to do—

(a) anything which it is unable to do by virtue of a pre-commencement limitation, or

(b) anything which it is unable to do by virtue of a post-commencement limitation which is expressed to apply—

(i) to its power under section 113A(1),

(ii) to all of its powers, or

(iii) to all of its powers but with exceptions that do not include its power under section 113A(1).

(2) If exercise of a pre-commencement power of an EPB or combined authority is subject to restrictions, those restrictions apply also to exercise of the power conferred on it by section 113A(1) so far as that power is overlapped by the pre-commencement power.

(3) Section 113A(1) does not authorise an EPB or combined authority to borrow money.

(4) Section 113A(1)(a) to (d) do not authorise an EPB or combined authority to charge a person for anything done by it otherwise than for a commercial purpose (but see section 93 of the Local Government Act 2003 (power of EPBs, combined authorities and other best value authorities to charge for discretionary services)).

(5) Section 113A(1)(e) does not authorise an EPB or combined authority to do things for a commercial purpose in relation to a person if a statutory provision requires it to do those things in relation to the person.

(6) Where under section 113A(1)(e) an EPB or combined authority does things for a commercial purpose, it must do them through—

(a) a company within the meaning given by section 1(1) of the Companies Act 2006, or

(b) a society registered or deemed to be registered under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies and Credit Unions Act 1965 or the Industrial and Provident Societies Act (Northern Ireland) 1969.

(7) In this section—

• “post-commencement limitation” means a prohibition, restriction or other limitation imposed by a statutory provision that—

  (a)

  is contained in an Act passed after the end of the Session in which the Localism Act 2011 is passed, or

  (b)

  is contained in an instrument made under an Act and comes into force on or after the commencement of section 13(1) of that Act;

• “pre-commencement limitation” means a prohibition, restriction or other limitation imposed by a statutory provision that—

  (a)

  is contained in an Act passed no later than the end of the Session in which the Localism Act 2011 is passed, or

  (b)

  is contained in an instrument made under an Act and comes into force before the commencement of section 13(1) of that Act;

• “pre-commencement power” means power conferred by a statutory provision that—

  (a)

  is contained in an Act passed no later than the end of the Session in which the Localism Act 2011 is passed, or

  (b)

  is contained in an instrument made under an Act and comes into force before the commencement of section 13(1) of that Act;

• “statutory provision” means a provision of an Act or of an instrument made under an Act.

113C Power to make provision supplemental to section 113A

(1) The Secretary of State may by order make provision preventing EPBs or combined authorities from doing under section 113A(1) anything which is specified, or is of a description specified, in the order.

(2) The Secretary of State may by order provide for the exercise by EPBs or combined authorities of power conferred by section 113A(1) to be subject to conditions, whether generally or in relation to doing anything specified, or of a description specified, in the order.

(3) The power under subsection (1) or (2) may be exercised in relation to—

(a) all EPBs,

(b) all combined authorities,

(c) particular EPBs,

(d) particular combined authorities,

(e) particular descriptions of EPBs, or

(f) particular descriptions of combined authorities.

(4) Before making an order under subsection (1) or (2) the Secretary of State must consult—

(a) such representatives of EPBs or combined authorities,

(b) such representatives of local government, and

(c) such other persons (if any),

as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

(5) Subsection (4) does not apply to an order under subsection (1) or (2) which is made only for the purpose of amending an earlier such order—

(a) so as to extend the earlier order, or any provision of the earlier order, to a particular EPB or combined authority or to EPBs or combined authorities of a particular description, or

(b) so that the earlier order, or any provision of the earlier order, ceases to apply to a particular EPB or combined authority or to EPBs or combined authorities of a particular description.

(6) Power to make an order under this section includes—

(a) power to make different provision for different cases, circumstances or areas, and

(b) power to make incidental, supplementary, consequential, transitional or transitory provision or savings.”

(2) For section 117(2) and (3) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (affirmative procedure applies to orders under Part 6 other than certain orders under section 116) substitute—

“(2) An order to which subsection (2A) applies may not be made unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing the order (whether alone or with other provisions) has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

(2A) This subsection applies to an order under this Part other than—

(a) an order under section 113C(1) that is made only for the purpose mentioned in section 113C(5)(b),

(b) an order under section 113C(2) that is made only for that purpose or for imposing conditions on the doing of things for a commercial purpose, or

(c) an order under section 116 that amends or revokes provision contained in an instrument subject to annulment by resolution of either House of Parliament.

(3) A statutory instrument that—

(a) contains an order under this Part, and

(b) is not subject to any requirement that a draft of the instrument be laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament,

is subject to annulment by resolution of either House of Parliament.”