Monday, February 28, 2005

Local Government Act 1972 - Section 143

Subscriptions to Local Government Associations.

143.—(1) A local authority may pay reasonable subscriptions, whether annually or otherwise, to the funds—

(a) of any association of local authorities formed (whether inside or outside the United Kingdom) for the purpose of consultation as to the common interests of those authorities and the discussion of matters relating to local government, or

(b) of any association of officers or members of local authorities which was so formed.

(2) In this section “local authority” includes the Common Council.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Neil,

Devil's advocate time.

Section 143 seems so widely drawn, and terms like 'common interests of authorities', so open to interpretation, that I don't believe we could hope to persuade a district auditor, that even though a RA was not being equally advantageous to all its member authorities at one and the same time, that this inequality would not nevertheless still be in the 'common interest'.

I have similar reservations with sections 137 & 143 of the 1972 Act.

I think you're (we're) on much stronger ground with your code of conduct points, and in taking these matters up with the regulatory powers, we should concentrate on this.

Comments / clarification please.

Richard

Neil Herron said...

Would agree to a degree but the argument is strengthened by the Leader of Durham County and the Leaders of Durham districts stating that the Regional Spatial Strategy is not acting in their interests. Ensuing publicity will ensure that they are asked 'why are you therefore giving money to the assembly and where is the input as an assembly member?'

Anonymous said...

Ah, OK Neil, I see where you're coming from.

Clearly this particular point is specific to the NE. You're fortunate that you've got such a comment from Durham, which is most useful as evidence to back up the point about LA funding needing to be in the LAs interest. That comment clearly contradicts that requirement.

I don't think I've got such a useful comment with respect to the NW, so unless I can find something similar, I'll have to leave this bit out of my complaint.

Rgds

Richard

Tim Daw said...

Great stuff - if I can help I will be pleased to.
If anyone is drawing up an Idiots guide of how to attack the Regional Assemblies please let me know. It seems you have done the hard work on the law, all it needs is for people like me to copy and paste to our local councils and follow the steps.
Tim

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