This Order amends the Government of Wales Act 2006 (“the 2006 Act”). The Order extends the legislative competence of the National Assembly for Wales to make laws known as Measures of the National Assembly for Wales (referred to in the 2006 Act as “Assembly Measures”). The legislative competence conferred by this Order is subject to general limitations on the exercise of that legislative competence, which apply by virtue of section 94 of, and Schedule 5 to, the 2006 Act.

Article 2 inserts matters 12.8 to 12.17 and interpretation provisions into field 12 (local government) of Part 1 of Schedule 5 to the 2006 Act.

Matters 12.8 to 12.14 cover a range of topics concerning local government for communities. These topics include: areas of communities; constitution, structure and procedures of institutions; electoral arrangements; powers to promote or improve the economic, social or environmental well-being of a community area; grant funding for communities; relations between communities and relations between communities and counties and county boroughs; quality accreditation schemes for local government for communities; and public participation in local government for communities.

“Communities” are defined for the purposes of field 12 (by an amendment to that field inserted by this LCO) as separate areas for the administration of local government, each of which is wholly within the area of a county council or county borough council (but does not constitute the whole area of a county council or county borough council).

Matter 12.15 is about the provision of information to the public about local government for communities, counties and county boroughs.

Matter 12.16 is about salaries, allowances, pensions and other payments for members of local government institutions for communities, county and county borough councils, National Park authorities and fire and rescue authorities.

Matter 12.17 is about promoting and supporting membership of local government institutions for communities and county and county borough councils.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been prepared for this Order since the effect of this Order is only to confer competence on the National Assembly for Wales to legislate.