These Regulations amend the National Park Authorities (Levies) (Wales) Regulations 1995 (“the Principal Regulations”) as amended by the National Park Authorities (Levies) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 1996. The Principal Regulations provide for the issue of levies by the National Park authorities to Welsh county or county borough councils as billing authorities for National Parks in Wales.

These Regulations replace certain provisions in the Principal Regulations for the financial years 2000 and 2001 (regulations 2 and 5). Further legislation will be required for subsequent years.

Regulation 3 of these Regulations revokes paragraphs (1) and (2) of regulation 4 (issue of levies) of the Principal Regulations. Those paragraphs, prevent a National Park authority from issuing a levy before the 15th January in the financial year preceding the financial year to which the authority’s levy relates, unless the National Assembly for Wales has made a determination of the amount of grant it is prepared to give to the authority under section 72 of the Environment Act 1995.

Regulation 4 of these Regulations, substitutes paragraphs (5), (6) and (7) of regulation 6 (maximum amount of levies) of the Principal Regulations with a new paragraph (5). Regulation 6 prevents a National Park authority from raising by way of levies an amount in excess of the maximum amount. Paragraph (5) makes a provision for calculating the maximum levy where the National Assembly for Wales has made a determination of National Park grants before the 15th January date referred to above. Paragraphs (6) and (7) make provision for calculation of the maximum levy where the National Assembly for Wales has not made a determination of grant by the 15th January. The substituted provision specifies a single maximum amount of levy which is specified for each National Park authority.

Regulation 5 makes consequential amendments.