(1)Section 497A of the Education Act 1996 (which confers power on the Secretary of State to secure the proper performance of local authority education functions, and is applied to social services functions relating to children by section 50 of the Children Act 2004 and to functions relating to childcare by section 15 of the Childcare Act 2006) is amended in accordance with subsection (2).
(2)After subsection (4A) insert—
“(4AA)So far as is appropriate in consequence of a direction given under subsection (4A), a reference (however expressed) in an enactment, instrument or other document to a local authority is to be read as a reference to the person by whom the function is exercisable.
(4AB)Subsection (4AC) applies if a direction given under subsection (4A) expires or is revoked without being replaced.
(4AC)So far as is appropriate in consequence of the expiry or revocation, a reference (however expressed) in an instrument or other document to the person by whom the function was exercisable is to be read as a reference to the local authority to which the direction was given.”
(3)In section 15 of the Local Government Act 1999 (Secretary of State’s power to secure compliance with requirements of Part 1 of that Act) after subsection (6) insert—
“(6A)So far as is appropriate in consequence of a direction given under subsection (6)(a), a reference (however expressed) in an enactment, instrument or other document to a best value authority is to be read as a reference to the person by whom the function is exercisable.
(6B)Subsection (6C) applies if a direction given under subsection (6)(a) expires or is revoked without being replaced.
(6C)So far as is appropriate in consequence of the expiry or revocation, a reference (however expressed) in an instrument or other document to the person by whom the function was exercisable is to be read as a reference to the best value authority to which the direction was given.”