Local spending reports
6
1
For the purpose of assisting in promoting the sustainability of local communities, the Secretary of State must make arrangements for the production, by the Secretary of State or another person, of local spending reports.
2
A local spending report is a report on expenditure by such authorities, in such area, and over such period, as are determined in accordance with the arrangements.
3
The authorities may be—
a
a local authority;
b
a government department;
c
any other person exercising public functions.
4
The area must be—
a
one or more local authority areas;
b
one or more parts of a local authority area; or
c
any combination of those.
5
The period may be or include a future period.
6
The expenditure to be included in relation to any authority, area or period is to be determined in accordance with the arrangements.
7
A report may relate to different areas or periods for different authorities.
8
The Secretary of State may make different arrangements for different reports.
9
The Secretary of State must make the first arrangements under this section within the period of 18 months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed.
10
Before making arrangements under this section, the Secretary of State must consult such persons likely to be affected by the arrangements as the Secretary of State thinks appropriate.
11
For the purposes of subsection (10) any consultation undertaken before the day on which this Act is passed is as effective as it would have been if undertaken after that day.