The West of England Combined Authority (Business Rate Supplements Functions) Order 2018

Made18th July 2018

Coming into force in accordance with article 1

The Secretary of State makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 105A(1)(b), 107D(1), (5) and (7)(a) to (e), 114(1) and 117(5) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 20091 (“the 2009 Act”).

In accordance with sections 105B(1) and 107D(9) of the 2009 Act, the district councils whose areas are comprised in the area of the West of England Combined Authority, the West of England Combined Authority and the Mayor of the West of England Combined Authority have consented to the making of this Order.

The Secretary of State considers that the making of this Order is likely to improve the exercise of statutory functions in the area to which this Order relates.

In accordance with section 105B(9) of the 2009 Act the Secretary of State has laid before Parliament a report explaining the effect of this Order and why the Secretary of State considers it appropriate to make this Order.

A draft of this instrument has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament pursuant to section 117(2) of the 2009 Act.

PART 1General

Citation and commencement1

This Order may be cited as the West of England Combined Authority (Business Rate Supplements Functions) Order 2018 and comes into force on the day after the day on which it is made.

Interpretation2

In this Order—

“the 2009 Act” means the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009;
“the BRS Act” means the Business Rate Supplements Act 20092;
“the WECA” means the West of England Combined Authority3.

PART 2Business Rate Supplements Functions

Conferral of BRS power of Greater London Authority3

1

The WECA has, in relation to its area, functions corresponding to the functions conferred on the Greater London Authority in relation to Greater London by the BRS Act.

2

Paragraph (1) does not apply in relation to the function conferred by section 3(5) of the BRS Act.

General functions of the Combined Authority exercisable only by the Mayor4

1

The functions of the WECA specified in article 3 are exercisable only by the Mayor4.

2

The members or officers of the WECA may assist the Mayor in the exercise of the functions specified in article 3.

3

For the purposes of the exercise of the functions specified in article 3 the Mayor may do anything that the WECA may do under section 113A of the 2009 Act (general power of EPB or combined authority)5.

4

The Mayor must not make arrangements under section 107D(3)(b) of the 2009 Act (functions of mayors: general) in relation to the functions specified in paragraph (1), in relation to a political adviser appointed under article 23(1) of the West of England Combined Authority Order 20176.

Adaptation of BRS Act in consequence of article 35

For the purposes of article 3, the BRS Act applies to the WECA as if —

a

references to the Greater London Authority in section 2(1) (levying authorities) and in section 5(2) (prospectus) of the BRS Act include references to the WECA;

b

references in that Act to a lower-tier authority are, in relation to the WECA, references to a district council whose area forms part of the WECA’s area.

Amendment of the West of England Combined Authority Order 20176

1

The West of England Combined Authority Order 2017 is amended as follows.

2

In paragraph (4) of article 6 after “and 23” insert “and the functions conferred on the Combined Authority by article 3 of the West of England Combined Authority (Business Rate Supplements Functions) Order 2018”.

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

Jake BerryParliamentary Under Secretary of StateMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government18th July 2018

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order provides for the conferral of functions the Greater London Authority has under the Business Rate Supplements Act 2009 (“the BRS Act”) on the West of England Combined Authority.

Part 6 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (“the 2009 Act”) provides for the establishment of combined authorities for the areas of two or more local authorities in England. Combined authorities are bodies corporate which may be given power to exercise specified functions in their area.

Article 3 of the Order provides that the Combined Authority is to have in relation to its area functions corresponding to the functions that the Greater London Authority has under the BRS Act to levy a supplement on business rates to raise money for expenditure on a project which will promote economic development in its area.

Article 4 provides that the functions are exercisable only by the Mayor, that the Mayor may be assisted by members or officers of the authority in the exercise of the functions and that the general power of the Combined Authority under section 113A of the 2009 Act is conferred on the Mayor for the purposes of those functions.

Article 5 provides for modification of the Business Rate Supplements Act 2009.

Article 6 amends the West of England Combined Authority (Functions and Amendment) Order 2016 to provide that the BRS functions of the Combined Authority will be funded in accordance with the arrangements specified in article 6 of that Order.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been prepared as this instrument will have no impact on the costs of business and the voluntary sector.