65 Duty to consult ratepayers.E+W
(1)A relevant authority shall consult under this section persons or bodies appearing to it to be representative of persons subject to non-domestic rates under sections 43 and 45 of the 1988 Act as regards hereditaments situated in the authority’s area.
(2)Consultations must be made as to each financial year, and must be about the authority’s proposals for expenditure (including capital expenditure) in that financial year; and the Secretary of State may by regulations prescribe matters which are to be treated as expenditure for this purpose.
(3)In this section “relevant authority” means a billing authority or a major precepting authority[F1, apart from a police and crime commissioner] [F2or a fire and rescue authority created by an order under section 4A of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004.] F3. . ..
(4)The duty to consult as to a financial year shall be performed—
(a)where the authority is a billing authority, before it makes calculations (otherwise than by way of substitute) in relation to the financial year under [F4section 31A above or] section 32 above;
(b)where the authority is a precepting authority, before it issues the first precept to be issued by it for the financial year.
(5)In performing the duty to consult, an authority shall have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State concerning—
(a)persons or bodies to be regarded for the purposes of this section as representative of persons subject to non-domestic rates under sections 43 and 45 of the 1988 Act as regards hereditaments situated in the authority’s area; and
(b)the timing and manner of consultations under this section.
(6)An authority shall make available to persons or bodies it proposes to consult under this section such information as may be prescribed and is in its possession or control; and it shall do so in such form and manner, and at such time, as may be prescribed.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 65(3) inserted (22.11.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 26(3), 157(1); S.I. 2012/2892, art. 2(a)
F2Words in s. 65(3) inserted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 3.4.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), s. 183(1)(5)(e), Sch. 1 para. 71(3); S.I. 2017/399, reg. 2, Sch. para. 38
F3Words in s. 65(3) repealed (1.1.2001) by 1999 c. 29, s. 423, Sch. 34 Pt. I (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/3379, art. 2 (with art. 3)
F4Words in s. 65(4)(a) inserted (3.12.2011) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 7 para. 28; S.I. 2011/2896, art. 2(i)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 65 amended (28.11.1994) by S.I. 1994/2825, reg. 50
C2S. 65 modified (12.1.2000temp.from 1.4.2000 until 31.3.2001) by S.I. 1999/3435, art. 4