Search Legislation

Local Authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970

 Help about what version

What Version

 Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

 Help about opening options

Opening Options

Status:

Point in time view as at 01/03/2007.

Changes to legislation:

Local Authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 24 April 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Changes and effects yet to be applied by the editorial team are only applicable when viewing the latest version or prospective version of legislation. They are therefore not accessible when viewing legislation as at a specific point in time. To view the ‘Changes to Legislation’ information for this provision return to the latest version view using the options provided in the ‘What Version’ box above.

Legislation Crest

Local Authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970

1970 CHAPTER 39

An Act to make further provision with respect to the supply of goods and services by local authorities to certain public bodies, and for purposes connected therewith.

[29th May 1970][29th May 1970][29th May 1970][29th May 1970]

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2Words of enactment omitted under authority of Statute Law Revision Act 1948 (c. 62), s. 3

C11Act extended (16.5.1992) by Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992 (c. 37), s. 12(10), Sch. 2 para. 21; S.I. 1992/817, art. 3(2), Sch. 1.

Act restricted (3.4.1995) by 1994 c. 19, s. 25(7) (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(3), 66(7), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1995/852, art. 4(1), Sch. 2

Act extended (5.7.1994) by 1994 c. 19, ss. 39, 66(2)(a) (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(3), 66(7), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2))

Act applied (with modifications) (1.4.1994) by S.I. 1994/653, reg. 42(1), Sch. Pt. I

Act applied (with modifications) (9.5.1994) by S.I. 1994/1084, reg. 8(1), Sch. 2 Pt. I

Act extended (E.W.) (19.9.1995) by 1995 c. 25, ss. 65(7), 125(2), Sch. 8 para. 5 (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117, Sch. 8 para. 7)

Act extended (1.2.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 120(1), Sch. 22 para. 13 (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 2

Act modified (E.W.) (1.4.1995) by S.I. 1995/401, art. 18, Sch. para. 4

Act applied (S.) (6.4.1995) (temp.) by S.I. 1995/789, art. 2, Sch. para. 2

Act amended (1.11.1996) by 1996 c. 56, ss. 582(1), 583(2), Sch. 37 Pt. I para. 17 (with ss. 1(4), 561, 562)

Act amended (1.10.1997) by 1997 c. 44, s. 57(1), Sch. 7 para. 2(1)(a)(2); S.I. 1997/1468, art. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. III

Act amended (1.3.1998) by 1997 c. 44, s. 57(1), Sch. 7 para. 2(1)(b); S.I. 1998/386, art. 2 Sch. 1 Pt. I

Act extended (1.10.1998) by 1998 c. 31, s. 140(1), Sch. 30 para. 2(1)(2) (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1998/2212, art. 2, Sch. 1

Act amended (25.11.1998 for specified purposes otherwise 3.7.2000) by 1998 c. 45, s. 32, Sch. 7 para. 3; S.I. 1998/2958, art. 2; S.I. 2000/1173, art. 2(2)(c)

Act amended (E.) (8.2.2000) by S.I. 2000/63, arts. 2, 3, Sch.

Act extended (8.9.2000) by 2000 asp 10, s. 9, Sch. 2 para. 11 (with s. 32); S.S.I. 2000/312, art. 2

C12Act: transfer of functions (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/672, art. 2, Sch. 1

Commencement Information

I1Act wholly in force at Royal Assent

1 Supply of goods and services by local authorities.E+W+S

(1)Subject to the provisions of this section, a local authority and any [F1public body within the meaning of this section][F1person] may[F2, in relation to any relevant trading operation carried on by the authority, ] enter into an agreement for all or any of the following purposes, that is to say—

(a)the supply by the authority to the [F1body][F1person] of any goods or materials;

(b)the provision by the authority for the [F1body][F1person] of any [F3administrative, professional or technical] services;

(c)the use by the [F1body][F1person] of any [F4vehicle, plant or apparatus belonging to][F4property belonging to or facilities under the control of] the authority and, without prejudice to paragraph (b) above, the placing at the disposal of the [F1body][F1person] of the services of any person employed in connection with the [F4vehicle or other property][F4property or facility] in question;

(d)[F5the carrying out by the authority of works of maintenance in connection with land or buildings for the maintenance of which the body is responsible;

and a local authority may purchase and store any goods or materials which in their opinion they may require for the purposes of paragraph ( a ) of this subsection. ]

[F6(1A)A local authority shall not, in relation to any trading operation carried on by them, enter into an agreement under subsection (1) above if the likely result of doing so would be that the commercial services income accruing to the authority in any financial year under that and all other such agreements already entered into by the authority with such persons in relation to that operation would exceed the statutory limit.

(1B)Subsection (1A) above does not apply in respect of an agreement entered into by a local authority with—

(a)another local authority;

(b)a public authority or body; or

(c)a person who, in the circumstances set out in subsection (1L) below, enters into the contract in order to provide the local authority with goods or services,

or with a person who, not being a public body, has functions of a public nature or engages in activities of that nature and the purpose or effect of the agreement is to facilitate discharge by that person of those functions or that person’s engagement in those activities.

(1C)The restriction in subsection (1A) does not prevent a local authority from entering into an agreement where the likely result of doing so would be that the income referred to in that subsection will exceed the limit there referred to if the Scottish Ministers give prior consent to the authority doing so.

(1D)In subsection (1A) above—

(a) the “ commercial services ” income of a local authority is that part of their income which—

(i)is derived from agreements entered into for all or any of the purposes set out in subsection (1) above and is, in accordance with proper accounting practices, credited to a trading account kept by the authority for a trading operation;

(ii)is derived from relevant dividends; or

(iii)is derived from relevant profit sharing agreements; and

(b) the “ statutory limit ” for a trading operation is such amount as the Scottish Ministers may, by order, fix.

(1E)For the purposes of subsection (1D) above—

  • relevant dividend ” means a dividend paid by a body corporate which carries on operations which, if they were carried on by the authority to which the dividend is paid, would be relevant trading operations;

  • relevant profit sharing agreement ” means an agreement between a local authority and a body corporate which carries on such operations in terms of which the body corporate undertakes to pay to the authority a proportion of any income which it derives from carrying out those operations.

(1F)An amount so fixed may be expressed as a fraction of any other amount specified or referred to in the order.

(1G)Different amounts may be so fixed for different trading operations or classes of trading operation, and an amount may be so fixed for all trading operations.

(1H)Where, for any trading operation, no amount has been so fixed, the prohibition in subsection (1A) above applies, the condition of its application set out in that subsection being ignored.

(1I)If, however, in the case of a trading operation for which no amount has been fixed, the Scottish Ministers give prior consent to a local authority entering into an agreement under subsection (1) above in relation to that trading operation, that prohibition does not apply.

(1J)An order under subsection (1D)(b) above shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the Scottish Parliament.

(1K)Before making such an order, the Scottish Ministers shall consult such persons as they think fit.

(1L)The circumstances referred to in paragraph (c) of subsection (1B) above are that the local authority considers that the provision of the goods or services under the contract mentioned in that paragraph will be facilitated if the person who has entered into the contract is within that paragraph.

(1M)A local authority shall, before entering any such agreement as is referred to in subsection (1) above, have regard to whether doing so will be likely to promote or improve the well-being of—

(a)their area and persons within that area;

(b)either of those.

(1N) For the purposes of subsection (1M) above, “ well-being ” is to be construed in the same way as it is construed for the purposes of section 20 of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 (asp 1).

(1O)References in this section to a trading operation are, in relation to a local authority, references to a trading operation for which, in accordance with proper accounting practices (within the meaning of section 12 of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 (asp 1)) the authority keep trading accounts.

(1P)The reference in subsection (1) above to a relevant trading operation is a reference to a trading operation which is carried on for the purpose of enabling a local authority to raise money, by borrowing or otherwise.]

(2)Nothing in paragraphs (a) to (c) of the [F7preceding subsection][F7subsection (1) above] authorises a local authority—

(a)to construct any buildings or works; or

(b)to be supplied with any property[F8, goods or materials] or provided with any service except

[F9(i)]for the purposes of functions conferred on the authority otherwise than by this Act[F10;

(ii)for the purpose of enabling the authority to supply the property, goods or materials or, as the case may be, provide the service to another authority;

(iii)in the case of the supply of goods or materials, where that supply is for the purpose of, or is incidental to the purpose of, enabling the authority to supply property or, as the case may be, provide a service; or

(iv)in any other case, where the Scottish Ministers have consented to the supply or provision.]

(3)Any agreement made in pursuance of subsection (1) of this section may contain such terms as to payment or otherwise as the parties consider appropriate.

(4)In this Act—

  • Local authority”, in relation to England and Wales, means the council of [F11any county, county borough], . . . F12, county district or London borough [F13the Greater London Authority][F14the Broads Authority], . . . F15, the Common Council of the City of London, the Council of the Isles of Scilly and any joint board, joint committee and combined authority [F16 . . . F17 and any joint authority established by Part IV of the Local Government Act 1985 [F18and the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, Transport for London and the London Development Agency]] and, in relation to Scotland, [F19means a [F20council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994] or any joint board or combination of those councils];

  • [F21public body ” means any local authority [F22 , any police authority established under [F23 section 3 of the Police Act 1996 ] , F24 ..., any ] [F25 housing action trust established under Part III of the Housing Act 1988 ] , any person who is a public body by virtue of subsection (5) of this section and, in relation to England and Wales, any parish council, . . . F12 and representative body of a rural parish; and ]

  • [F21works of maintenance ” include minor renewals, minor improvements and minor extensions. ]

  • [F26property ” includes land, accommodation, vehicles, plant and apparatus;”; and ]

(5)[F27The following Ministers, that is to say—

(a)in relation to England and Wales, the Minister of Housing and Local Government and the Secretary of State acting jointly; and

(b)in relation to Scotland, the Secretary of State,

may by order made by statutory instrument provide that any person who is specified in the order or is of a description so specified, being a person or description of persons appearing to those Ministers or the Secretary of State to be exercising functions of a public nature, shall be a public body for the purposes of this Act in its application to England and Wales or Scotland, as the case may be; and any statutory instrument made by virtue of this subsection shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.]

(6)[F27An order under the preceding subsection may contain such provisions as the person making it considers appropriate—

(a)for restricting the agreements which may by virtue of the order be entered into by a public body;

(b)without prejudice to the preceding paragraph, for securing the inclusion in any agreement made by virtue of the order of terms imposing restrictions.]

[F28(7)The Great Yarmouth Port and Haven Commissioners shall be treated as a public body for the purposes of paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) above as those paragraphs apply in relation to agreements entered into by the Broads Authority.]

Textual Amendments

F5S. 1(1)(d) and words repealed (S.) (1.4.2003 for specified purposes) by Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 (asp 1), ss. 8(2)(a)(v), 62(2); S.S.I. 2003/134, art. 2(1), Sch.

F10S. 1(2)(b)(ii)-(iv) and semicolon inserted (S.) (1.4.2003) by Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 (asp 1), ss. 8(2)(c)(iv), 62(2); S.S.I. 2003/134, art. 2(1), Sch.

F11Words in s. 1 substituted (3.4.1995) by 1994 c. 19, s. 25(8) (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1995/852, art. 4(1), Sch.

F13Words in s. 1(4) inserted (8.5.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 388(a) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 1999/3434, art. 3

F18Words in s. 1(4) inserted (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 388(b) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 1999/3434, art. 4

F21Words in s. 1(4) repealed (S.) (1.4.2003 for specified purposes) by Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 (asp 1), ss. 8(2)(d)(i), 62(2); S.S.I. 2003/134, art. 2(1), Sch.

F22S. 1(4): words in definition inserted (1.10.1994) by 1994 c. 29, s. 43, Sch. 4 para. 5; S.I. 1994/2025, art. 6(2)(e)

F23Words substituted (22.8.1996) by 1996 c. 16, ss. 103, 104(1), Sch. 7 Pt. I, para. 2(g)

F24Words in the definition of "public body" in s. 1(4) repealed (1.4.2002) by 2001 c. 16, ss. 128, 137, Sch. 6 Pt. 3 para. 58, Sch. 7 Pt. 5(1); S.I. 2002/344, art. 3(j)(k)(m) (with transitional provisions in art. 4)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C19S. 1 extended (E.W.) by Water Act 1973 (c. 37), s. 7(1)

C20Functions of Minister of Housing and Local Government now exercisable by Secretary of State: S.I. 1970/1681

C24S. 1 extended (E.W.) (1.12.1991) by Water Consolidation (Consequential Provisions) Act 1991 (c. 60, SIF 130), ss. 2(1), 4(2), Sch. 1 para. 20

S. 1(1)-(3) applied (with modifications) (E.W.) (1.4.1995) by 1964 c. 48, s. 8A (as inserted by 1994 c. 29, s. 9; S.I. 1994/3262, art. 4, Sch.)

S. 1(1)-(3) applied (with modifications) (E.W.) (22.8.1996) by 1996 c. 16, s. 18 (as substituted (1.10.2002) by Police Reform Act 2002 (c. 30), s. 101; S.I. 2002/2306, art. 2(f)(x))

C25S. 1 applied (with modifications) (S.) (1.11.2001) by 2001 asp 10, s. 107; S.S.I. 2001/336, art. 2(3), Sch. Pt. II (subject to art. 3)

C27S. 1(4) extended by S.I. 1985/1884, art. 10, Sch. 3 para. 4(h)

C28S. 1(4) extended by S.I. 1987/2110, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 para. 8(e)

C29S. 1(4) amended by S.I. 1989/1815, art. 2, Sch. 1 para. 6(a)

C32S. 1(4)(5) extended (E.W.) (1.3.2007) by National Health Service Act 2006 (c. 41), ss. 74, 277(1)

2 Supplemental.E+W

(1)Nothing in section 1 of this Act shall be construed as derogating from any powers exercisable by any public body apart from that section.

(2)The accounts of a local authority by whom agreements in pursuance of the said section 1 are entered into under which the authority are to provide any such property or service or do such work as is mentioned in subsection (1) of that section shall include a separate account in respect of the agreements; and subsections (4), (6) and (7) of section 283 of the M1Local Government Act 1933 and sections [F29101 and 105 of the M2Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973] (which relate to the inspection and taking of copies of the abstract of accounts of authorities) shall have effect as if any reference to an abstract of the accounts of an authority included a reference to such a separate account as aforesaid F30 ... .

(3)Subsections (1), (2), (4) and (5) of section 82 of the M3Public Health Act 1961 (which provide among other things, in relation to England and Wales, for the amendment or repeal, on the application of or after consultation with the authorities concerned, of local enactments which are inconsistent with that Act or unnecessary in consequence of it) shall have effect as if references to that Act included references to this Act and references to a local Act included references to the provisions of sections 5(3) and 72 of the M4London Government Act 1963 and as if, in relation to those provisions, the application mentioned in subsection (2) were an application by the Greater London Council.

(4) Section 14 of the M5 Local Government (Development and Finance) (Scotland) Act 1964 (which contains similar provisions for the amendment or repeal of local enactments in Scotland) shall have effect as if references therein to that Act included references to this Act.

(5)An order under section 1(5) of this Act may be revoked or varied by a subsequent order thereunder, and the subsequent order may contain such transitional provisions as the person making it considers appropriate.

2 Supplemental.S

(1)Nothing in section 1 of this Act shall be construed as derogating from any powers exercisable by any [F31public body][F31person] apart from that section.

(2)The accounts of a local authority by whom agreements in pursuance of the said section 1 are entered into under which the authority are to provide any such property or service or do such work as is mentioned in subsection (1) of that section shall include a separate account in respect of the agreements; and subsections (4), (6) and (7) of section 283 of the M6Local Government Act 1933 and sections [F32101 and 105 of the M7Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973] (which relate to the inspection and taking of copies of the abstract of accounts of authorities) shall have effect as if any reference to an abstract of the accounts of an authority included a reference to such a separate account as aforesaid . . . F33.

(3)Subsections (1), (2), (4) and (5) of section 82 of the M8Public Health Act 1961 (which provide among other things, in relation to England and Wales, for the amendment or repeal, on the application of or after consultation with the authorities concerned, of local enactments which are inconsistent with that Act or unnecessary in consequence of it) shall have effect as if references to that Act included references to this Act and references to a local Act included references to the provisions of sections 5(3) and 72 of the M9London Government Act 1963 and as if, in relation to those provisions, the application mentioned in subsection (2) were an application by the Greater London Council.

(4)[F34 Section 14 of the M10 Local Government (Development and Finance) (Scotland) Act 1964 (which contains similar provisions for the amendment or repeal of local enactments in Scotland) shall have effect as if references therein to that Act included references to this Act. ]

(5)[F34An order under section 1(5) of this Act may be revoked or varied by a subsequent order thereunder, and the subsequent order may contain such transitional provisions as the person making it considers appropriate.]

3 Short title and extent.E+W+S

(1)This Act may be cited as the Local Authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970.

(2)This Act does not extend to Northern Ireland.

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Point in Time: This becomes available after navigating to view revised legislation as it stood at a certain point in time via Advanced Features > Show Timeline of Changes or via a point in time advanced search.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources