The Localism Act 2011 (Commencement No. 1 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2011

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order brings into force, the day after the day it is made, the provisions of the Localism Act 2011 listed below for the limited purposes of enabling the Secretary of State to make certain subordinate legislation.

The provisions are section 8(2) (general power of competence: eligible parish councils), sections 15, 19 and 20 (power to transfer local public functions to permitted authorities), section 21, 22 and Schedules 2 and 3 in part (new arrangements with respect to governance of English local authorities).

The Order also brings into force, the day after the day it is made, section 69(8) (non-domestic rates, discretionary relief) in relation to England only, sections 72 to 79 and Schedules 5 to 7 (referendums relating to council tax increases).

Article 3 makes transitional provision in relation to council tax to ensure the calculations an authority must make under the new provisions of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 inserted by Schedule 5 to the Localism Act 2011 work appropriately for the financial year beginning on 1st April 2011. It also makes transitional provision to ensure that section 86(4D) of the Greater London Authority Act 1999, inserted by section 76 of the Localism Act 2011 works appropriately until section 3 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 is commenced.