72—(1) This section applies in relation to amounts paid to a district council in pursuance of—
(a)notices under Article 6 and Article 14A of, and paragraph 7 of Schedule 1A to, the Litter (Northern Ireland) Order 1994 (NI 10);
(b)notices under section 26;
(c)notices under section 43.
(2) The amounts to which this section applies which are paid to a district council are in this section called the council's “fixed penalty receipts”.
(3) A district council may use its fixed penalty receipts only for the purposes of qualifying functions of the council.
(4) For the purposes of this section the “qualifying functions” of a council are—
(a)its functions under the Litter (Northern Ireland) Order 1994;
(b)its functions under section 26;
(c)its functions under Part 5; and
(d)such other of its functions as may be specified in regulations made by the Department.
(5) Regulations under subsection (4)(d) may (in particular) have the effect that a council may use its fixed penalty receipts for the purposes of any of its functions.
(6) A district council must supply the Department with such information relating to its fixed penalty receipts as the Department may require.
(7) The Department may by regulations—
(a)make provision for what a council is to do with its fixed penalty receipts—
(i)pending their being used for the purposes of qualifying functions of the council;
(ii)if they are not so used before such time after their receipt as may be specified by the regulations;
(b)make provision for accounting arrangements in respect of a council's fixed penalty receipts.
(8) The provision that may be made under subsection (7)(a)(ii) includes (in particular) provision for the payment of sums to a person (including the Department) other than the council.
(9) Before making regulations under this section, the Department must consult—
(a)district councils;
(b)such other persons as the Department thinks fit.
Commencement Information
I1S. 72 in operation at 1.4.2012 by S.R. 2012/13, art. 2(2), Sch. 2