The Smaller Authorities (Transparency Requirements) (England) Regulations 2015

Made4th March 2015

Laid before Parliament9th March 2015

Coming into force1st April 2015

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 3(1), (2), (3) and (4) of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 19801.

In accordance with section 3(11) of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980, before making these Regulations the Secretary of State consulted with such associations of authorities to whom section 2 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 19802 applies as appeared to the Secretary of State to be concerned.

The Secretary of State is of the opinion that it is necessary to make these Regulations to ensure that authorities in England to whom section 2 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 applies publish information specified in the Transparency code for smaller authorities3 2014, in the manner and form and on the occasions specified in that Code.

Citation and commencement1

These Regulations may be cited as the Smaller Authorities (Transparency Requirements) (England) Regulations 2015 and come into force on 1st April 2015.

Requirement to publish information2

1

An authority to which the Code applies must publish the information specified in the Code in the manner and form and on the occasions specified in the Code.

2

In this regulation, “the Code” means the “Transparency code for smaller authorities”, issued on 17th December 2014 by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government4.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

Kris HopkinsParliamentary Under Secretary of StateDepartment for Communities and Local Government4th March 2015

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

Under section 2 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 the Secretary of State may issue a code of recommended practice on publication of information by local authorities. Under section 3 of the 1980 Act, the Secretary of State may by regulations require authorities to publish the information specified in such a code, in the manner and form and on the occasions specified in that code.

These Regulations require authorities in England to which the Transparency code for smaller authorities (“the Code”) issued on 17th December 2014 applies to comply with that Code. The Code can be accessed at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transparency-code-for-smaller-authorities and copies may be obtained from the Department for Communities and Local Government, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen and the impact on the public sector is minimal.