The Local Government (2005 Order) (Commencement No. 1) Order (Northern Ireland) 2005

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

This Order brings into operation on 1st November 2005 the following provisions of the Local Government (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (the 2005 Order)—

Article 4(3) provides for the Department, with the consent of the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland, to designate a local government auditor as chief local government auditor.

Article 5 requires the chief local government auditor to prepare and keep under review a code of audit practice.

Article 30 amends the Litter (Northern Ireland) Order 1994 to permit district councils to use the sums they receive from fixed penalty receipts for litter and dog fouling offences to be used to carry out their functions under Articles 5 and 6 of that Order. The amendment also permits the Department to make regulations regarding the use by councils of fixed penalty receipts.

Article 31 amends the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 by including cosmetic piercing and semi-permanent skin-colouring in the provisions which deal with tattooing, ear-piercing and electrolysis. Schedule 2, which is also brought into operation by this Order, provides for transitional provisions.

Article 32 amends the Local Government (Northern Ireland) Act 1972 to permit the Department to amend by regulation the amount district councils may spend on special purposes under section 115 of that Act.

Article 34 amends Article 9 of the Superannuation (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 to provide that regulations made by the Department under Article 9 may require any financial statement relating to any fund maintained under the regulations to be prepared in accordance with guidance issued by the Department of Finance and Personnel.