The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2009

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order commences the following provisions of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (“the Act”), so far as they are not already in force.

Article 2 brings into force sections 88 to 113,118 to 120 of, and Schedule 6 to, the Act on the day after the Order is made. Part 6 of the Act makes provision for the establishment in England of economic prosperity boards and combined authorities which provide a formal structure to lead collaboration between relevant local authorities on sub-regional economic development and regeneration (and transport in the case of combined authorities).

Article 3 brings into force sections 114 to 117 of the Act, which confer powers on the Secretary of State to make orders in relation to economic prosperity boards and combined authorities on 12th January 2010.

Article 4 brings into force the remaining provisions specified in the Order on 1st April 2010.—

• Sections 23 and 24, which constitute Chapter 3 of Part 1 of the Act, and which make provision in relation to the duty of certain listed public authorities in England to secure involvement of the public in the exercise of their functions;

• Section 31 which amends Part 3 of the Local Government Act 2000 (c.22) to require local authorities in England (excluding district councils where there is a county council) to designate one of their officers as a scrutiny officer;

• Sections 55 to 61, 63, 65 to 67 of, and Schedules 1 to 4 to, the Act, which constitute the provisions in Part 3 of the Act which were not brought into force on the day when the Act was passed. Part 3 of the Act establishes the Local Government Boundary Commission for England and transfers to it the functions of the Boundary Committee for England. It makes provision for changes to local authority boundary and electoral arrangements in England, modified in the main to reflect the removal of the Electoral Commission and makes changes to the functions of the Electoral Commission;

• Section 69(1) (2) (4) and (5) of the Act, being the provisions in Part 4 of the Act which were not commenced by the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (Commencement No. 1) Order 2009 (SI 2009/3087) (“the First Commencement Order”) and which impose duties on local authorities in England to prepare economic assessments of their area;

• Sections 70, 72 to 83, 85 of, and Schedule 5 to, the Act, being the provisions in Part 5 of the Act which were not commenced by the First Commencement Order. That Part relates to regional strategy for all regions in England other than London.