The Drainage (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2005

Title and commencement

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Drainage (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2005.

(2) This Order comes into operation on the expiration of two months from the day on which it is made.

Interpretation

2.—(1) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 (c. 33) applies to this Order as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.

(2) In this Order “the 1973 Order” means the Drainage (Northern Ireland) Order 1973 (NI 1).

Dissolution of drainage trusts

3.  After Article 29 of the 1973 Order there shall be inserted—

“Dissolution of drainage trusts

29A.— (1) The Department may by order dissolve a trust to which this Article applies.

(2) This Article applies to—

(a) any trust constituted by a scheme under section 27(2) of the Northern Ireland Land Act 1925 (c. 34) (trusts for the maintenance of watercourses or other works);

(b) any trust in relation to which there has been a transfer under Article 29;

(c) any other trust constituted—

(i) for the purpose of draining any land; or

(ii) for the purpose of maintaining or improving the drainage of any land,

of which the Department is a trustee.

(3) Before making an order under paragraph (1), the Department shall publish—

(a) in the Belfast Gazette; and

(b) in at least two newspapers circulating in the area to which the trust relates,

a notice of intention to dissolve the trust.

(4) The notice of intention to dissolve the trust shall—

(a) identify the trust;

(b) give details of any provision proposed to be included by virtue of paragraph (6)(a) in the order dissolving the trust;

(c) give notice that any person, who considers that the proposed dissolution of the trust would subject him to a significant detriment, may object to the Department in writing in relation to that dissolution, at the address specified in the notice, within 28 days of the publication of the notice in the Gazette.

(5) After considering any objections received in accordance with paragraph(4)(c), the Department may make an order under paragraph (1) unless it is satisfied that the dissolution of the trust in accordance with the order would subject any person to a significant detriment.

(6) An order under paragraph (1)—

(a) shall provide for the application of any property forming part of the trust;

(b) shall provide for all rights, duties, obligations and liabilities arising under the trust to be extinguished; and

(c) may contain such other incidental or supplementary provisions as the Department thinks necessary or expedient in connection with the dissolution of the trust.

(7) An order under paragraph (1) has effect in relation to a trust notwithstanding anything in any statutory provision or in any scheme, court order, deed or other instrument constituting the trust.

(8) An order made under paragraph (1) shall be subject to negative resolution.”.

Power of Department to charge for exercise of functions

4.—(1) After Article 34 of the 1973 Order there shall be inserted—

“Power of Department to charge for exercise of functions

34A.— (1) The Department may by regulations make provision for the payment of charges to the Department in respect of the exercise of its functions under this Order.

(2) Regulations made under paragraph (1) may—

(a) prescribe the functions in respect of which charges are payable;

(b) prescribe the persons liable to pay such charges;

(c) prescribe the amount of the charges or the manner in which charges are to be determined;

(d) prescribe the times at which, and method by which, charges are payable;

(e) make provision for the review by the Lands Tribunal of any charge which the Department proposes to make under the regulations, including provision for the powers of the Lands Tribunal on any such review;

(f) provide for the remission or reduction of charges in prescribed circumstances;

(g) provide for the recovery by the Department of charges due to it;

(h) provide for the payment of interest if charges are not paid on time;

(i) make such incidental, supplementary and transitional provision as appears to the Department to be appropriate.

(3) Any regulations made by the Department under this Article shall be subject to negative resolution.”.

(2) In Article 35 of the 1973 Order (provisions as to recovery of expenses) after paragraph (1) there shall be inserted the following paragraph—

“(1A) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any sum of money which the Department is authorised to recover by virtue of Article 34A.”.

(3) In Article 42(2) of the 1973 Order (financial provisions) for the words “or 28” there shall be substituted the words “, 28 or 34A”.

A. K. Galloway

Clerk of the Privy Council.