PART IIIDecentralisation and Joint Working
Joint working
33Joint working arrangements
1
Where it appears to the Secretary of State—
a
that particular functions of a new principal council should be discharged in accordance with arrangements entered into by that council and one or more other such councils in relation to the exercise of those functions, but
b
that satisfactory arrangements for the exercise of those functions will not be, or are unlikely to be, in force on or after 1st April 1996,
he may, at any time before 31st March 1999, give a direction to the councils concerned requiring them to make specified arrangements in relation to the exercise of specified functions.
2
The arrangements specified may, in particular, be, or include, arrangements for the joint exercise of functions.
3
In this section “specified”, in relation to a direction, means specified in the direction.
4
In considering whether to give a direction under subsection (1), the Secretary of State shall have regard, in particular, to the desirability of the functions in question being discharged effectively and in a financially efficient manner.
5
A direction under subsection (1) shall remain in force—
a
until it is withdrawn by a notice in writing given by the Secretary of State to the councils concerned; or
b
where a period is specified in the direction during which the direction is to have effect, and the direction has not been withdrawn by the Secretary of State, until the end of that period.
6
A direction under subsection (1) may at any time while it is in force be varied by the Secretary of State.
7
Nothing in subsection (5) or (6) shall be taken to affect the power of the Secretary of State to give a further direction under subsection (1).