Learning and Skills Act 2000

22 Plans of local councils

(1) A local council must prepare a plan for each financial year of the Council.

(2) A plan must include—

(a) a statement of the needs regarding education and training of the population of the local council’s area;

(b) a statement of the needs of employers in the local council’s area regarding education and training of their employees and potential employees;

(c) a statement of how the local council proposes to carry out its functions in the light of the needs mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b);

(d) proposals as to how the local council intends to achieve in the financial year any objectives which should be achieved in the year in conformity with guidance issued by the Council under section 21;

(e) the local council’s financial proposals for the year, taking account of guidance issued by the Council under section 21;

(f) a statement of the likely effect of the local council’s activities on the economic development and regeneration of its area.

(3) A plan must include—

(a) a statement of the education and training (and connected organised leisure-time occupation) whose provision the local council would like a relevant local education authority to secure in the local council’s area for persons who have attained the age of 19, and

(b) proposals as to the financial resources with which the authority will be provided by the Council to enable the authority to secure the provision of such education and training (and connected organised leisure-time occupation).

(4) In preparing a plan a local council must have regard to—

(a) any matter contained in guidance issued by the Council under section 21 (in addition to the matters mentioned in subsection (2) above);

(b) the strategy of any relevant regional development agency prepared under section 7 of the [1998 c. 45.] Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 or published under section 7A of that Act;

(c) any strategy prepared by any relevant local authority under section 4 of the [2000 c. 22.] Local Government Act 2000 (strategies for promoting well-being).

(5) In preparing a plan a local council must consult—

(a) any relevant regional development agency;

(b) any relevant local authority;

(c) such other persons as the Secretary of State may specify.

(6) After consulting under subsection (5) and (if appropriate) altering the plan the local council must seek the Council’s approval of it; and the Council must consult any relevant regional development agency on whether the plan should be approved.

(7) The Council must approve the plan or require the local council to make specified alterations of it; and if alterations are required the local council must make them.

(8) The local council must publish the plan as approved by the Council or as altered in accordance with the Council’s requirements.

(9) A plan must be taken into account in deciding the extent to which—

(a) a local council has carried out its functions in a satisfactory way;

(b) a director of a local council has carried out his functions in a satisfactory way.

(10) For the purposes of this section—

(a) a regional development agency is a development agency established by section 1 of the [1998 c. 45.] Regional Development Agencies Act 1998;

(b) a regional development agency is a relevant agency if any of its area falls within the area of the local council concerned;

(c) a local education authority is a relevant authority if any of its area falls within the area of the local council concerned;

(d) “local authority” means a local authority as defined in section 1(a) of the Local Government Act 2000 and the Greater London Authority;

(e) a local authority is a relevant authority if any of its area falls within the area of the local council concerned.