Office of Public Sector Information

Part VI Miscellaneous Powers of Local Authorities

Subsidiary powers

69 Subsidiary powers of local authorities

(1)Without prejudice to any powers exercisable apart from this section but subject to the provisions of this Act and any other enactment passed before or after this Act, a local authority shall have power to do any thing (whether or not involving the expenditure, borrowing or lending of money or the acquisition or disposal of any property or rights) which is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the discharge of any of their functions.

(2)A local authority shall not by virtue of this section raise money, whether by means of rates or borrowing, or lend money except in accordance with the enactments relating to those matters respectively.

(3)Without prejudice to section 53 of the M1Countryside (Scotland) Act 1967 (contributions by or to local authorities), two or more local authorities may make arrangements for defraying any expenditure incurred by one of them in exercising any functions exercisable by both or all of them.

F1(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Land transactions

70 Acquisition of land by agreement

(1)For the purposes of—

(a)any of their functions under this or any other enactment, or

(b)the benefit, improvement or development of their area,

a local authority may acquire by agreement any land, whether situated inside or outside their area.

(2)A local authority may acquire by agreement any land for any purpose for which they are authorised by this or any other enactment to acquire land, notwithstanding that the land is not immediately required for that purpose; and, until it is required for the purpose for which it was acquired, any land acquired under this subsection may be used for the purpose of any of the authority’s functions.

(3)For the purpose of the purchase of land by agreement by a local authority, the Lands Clauses Acts (except so much thereof as relates to the acquisition of land otherwise than by agreement, and the provisions relating to access to the special Act, and except sections 120 to 125 of the M1Lands Clauses Consolidation (Scotland) Act 1845), and section 6 and sections 70 to 78 of the M2Railways Clauses Consolidation (Scotland) Act 1845 (as originally enacted and not as amended by section 15 of the M3Mines (Working Facilities and Support) Act 1923) are hereby incorporated with this section, and, in construing those Acts for the purposes of this section, this section shall be deemed to be the special Act and the local authority shall be deemed to be the promoters of the undertaking or company, as the case may require.

(4)Where two or more local authorities acting together would have power to acquire any land by agreement by virtue of this section, nothing in any enactment shall prevent one of those authorities from so acquiring the land on behalf of both or all of them in accordance with arrangements made between them, including arrangements as to the subsequent occupation and use of the land.

(5) References in the foregoing provisions of this section to acquisition are references to acquisition by purchase, feu, lease or excambion.

71 Acquisition of land compulsorily

(1)Subject to subsection (2) below, for the purposes of any of their functions under this or any other enactment, a local authority may be authorised by the Minister concerned with the function in question to purchase compulsorily any land, whether situated inside or outside their area.

(2)A local authority may not be authorised under subsection (1) above to purchase land compulsorily for any purpose in relation to which their power of acquisition is by any enactment expressly limited to acquisition by agreement.

(3)Where one or more local authorities propose, in exercise of the power conferred by subsection (1) above, to acquire any land for more than one purpose, the Minister or Ministers whose authorisation is required for the exercise of that power shall not be concerned to make any apportionment between those purposes nor, where there is more than one local authority, between those authorities, and—

(a)the purposes shall be treated as a single purpose and the compulsory acquisition shall be treated as requiring the authorisation of the Minister, or the joint authorisation of the Ministers, concerned with those purposes; and

(b)where there is more than one local authority concerned, the authorities may nominate one of them to acquire the land on behalf of them all and the authority so nominated shall accordingly be treated as the acquiring authority for the purposes of any enactment relating to the acquisition.

(4)The M1Acquisition of Land (Authorisation Procedure) (Scotland) Act 1947 shall apply in relation to the compulsory purchase of land in pursuance of subsection (1) above as if that subsection were contained in an Act in force immediately before the commencement of that Act.

72 Title to land

The title to all land acquired by a local authority shall be taken in the corporate name of the authority.

73 Appropriation of land

(1)Subject to Part II of the M1Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1959 and to the following provisions of this section, a local authority may appropriate for the purpose of any function, whether statutory or otherwise, land vested in them for the purpose of any other such function.

(2)A local authority may not exercise their power of appropriation under subsection (1) above with respect to any land specified in subsection [F1(3)] below except with the consent of the Secretary of State.

(3)The land to which subsection (2) above applies is [F2land which] is held for use as allotments.

74 Disposal of land

(1)Subject to Part II of the M1Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1959 and to subsection (2) below, a local authority may dispose of land held by them in any manner they wish.

(2)Except [F1in accordance with regulations under subsection (2C) below,] , a local authority shall not dispose of land under subsection (1) above for a consideration less than the best that can reasonably be obtained.

[F2(2A)Subsection (2) does not extend to a disposal where—

(a)the best consideration that can reasonably be obtained is less than the threshold amount; or

(b)the difference between that consideration and the proposed consideration is less than the marginal amount.

(2B)The Scottish Ministers shall, by regulations, fix the threshold amount and the marginal amount for the purposes of subsection (2A) above.

(2C)The Scottish Ministers may, by regulations, provide as to the circumstances in which and procedure by which local authorities may, under this section, dispose of land for a consideration less than the best that can reasonably be obtained.

(2D)Those regulations may include provision—

(a)requiring a local authority proposing to dispose of land at less than the best consideration that can reasonably be obtained to appraise and compare the costs and other disbenefits and the benefits of the proposal;

(b)requiring the local authority, before deciding in favour of the proposal, to be satisfied that so deciding would be reasonable; and

(c)setting out factors to which the local authority must have regard when considering whether its decision would be reasonable.

(2E)References in this section to the best consideration that can reasonably be obtained by a local authority are references to that consideration as assessed by a suitably qualified valuer.

(2F)In appointing and instructing a suitably qualified valuer for the purposes of subsection (2E) above, the local authority shall have regard to any guidance provided by the Scottish Ministers on—

(a)what are suitable qualifications;

(b)what factors are to be or not to be taken into account by the valuer in assessing the consideration referred to in that subsection.

(2G)Regulations under this section shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the Scottish Parliament.

(2H)Before making such regulations, the Scottish Ministers shall consult such associations of local authorities and such other persons as they think fit.]

F3(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

74A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1

75 Disposal, etc., of land forming part of the common good

(1)The provisions of this Part of this Act with respect to the appropriation or disposal of land belonging to a local authority shall apply in the case of land forming part of the common good of an authority with respect to which land no question arises as to the right of the authority to alienate.

(2)Where a local authority desire to dispose of land forming part of the common good with respect to which land a question arises as to the right of the authority to alienate, they may apply to the Court of Session or the sheriff to authorise them to dispose of the land, and the Court or sheriff may, if they think fit, authorise the authority to dispose of the land subject to such conditions, if any, as they may impose, and the authority shall be entitled to dispose of the land accordingly.

(3)The Court of Session or sheriff acting under subsection (2)

above may impose a condition requiring that the local authority shall provide in substitution for the land proposed to be disposed of other land to be used for the same purpose for which the former land was used.

76 Special provisions as to land acquired for public recreation from heir of entail

Where an heir of entail in possession of land disposes of land to a local authority for the purpose of public recreation under the provisions of this Act or any other enactment (not being land within a quarter of a mile of the mansion house in the natural possession of the heir of entail or part of any garden, orchard or enclosure adjacent to the mansion house which has usually been in the natural possession of the proprietor) and such land does not exceed in all twenty acres, and where the persons in right of heritable securities or other charges affecting such land refuse to consent to such disposal, such lands shall be disburdened of the said heritable securities and charges if the sheriff, upon the application of the heir of entail in possession duly intimated to the said persons who shall be entitled to appear and object, finds that the lands comprised in the heritable securities or charges other than the land being acquired by the local authority afford adequate security.

77 Payment of purchase or compensation money by one local authority to another

Any purchase money or compensation payable in pursuance of this Part of this Act by a local authority in respect of land acquired from another local authority which would but for this section be required to be paid into court in manner provided by the Lands Clauses Acts may, if the Minister concerned with the purpose for which the land was held by the last mentioned authority consents, instead of being paid into court, be paid and applied as that Minister may determine, and the decision of that Minister shall be final.

Buildings, contracts, etc

78 Power to erect buildings, etc

(1)Subject to subsection (2)below and section 94 of this Act, a local authority may, for the purpose of any of their functions or for the benefit or improvement of their area, erect buildings or execute any other works on any land belonging to them or, where they are satisfied that the terms of the lease of land are such as to make it prudent for them to do so, on land leased by them, or convert, alter, enlarge or improve any existing building or other works belonging to them or, where they consider it prudent, any existing building or other works let to them.

(2)Subsection (1)above shall not of itself authorise a local authority to do anything contrary to the conditions contained in the title to or lease of any such land or building or other works or authorise land held for one purpose to be used for another purpose.

79 Provision of offices, etc

A local authority may acquire or provide and furnish and maintain halls, offices and other buildings, whether within or without the area of the authority, to be used for the purpose of transacting the business of the authority or the business of any other body for which the authority are required or authorised by or under any enactment to provide accommodation, or for the purpose of public meetings or assemblies.

80 Interpretation of “functions”

For the purposes of the foregoing provisions of this Part of this Act, the functions of a local authority shall be deemed to include the provision of accommodation for any committee, court or other body which the authority are required or authorised to provide, notwithstanding that the committee, court or body may exercise functions not vested in the authority.

81 Contracts of local authorities

(1)A local authority may make standing orders with respect to the making of contracts by them or on their behalf.

(2)A local authority shall make standing orders with respect to the making by them or on their behalf of contracts for the supply of goods or materials or for the execution of works.

(3)Standing orders made by a local authority with respect to contracts for the supply of goods or materials or for the execution of works shall include provision for securing competition for such contracts and for regulating the manner in which tenders are invited, but may exempt from any such provision contracts for a price below that specified in standing orders and may authorise the authority to exempt any contract from any such provision when the authority are satisfied that the exemption is justified by special circumstances.

(4)A person entering into a contract with a local authority shall not be bound to inquire whether the standing orders of the authority which apply to the contract have been complied with, and non-compliance with such orders shall not invalidate any contract entered into by or on behalf of the authority.

(5)In this section the expression “contracts” includes, in relation to the execution of works, arrangements for the execution of those works by persons employed by the local authority.

Private legislation

82 Power of local authority to promote or oppose private legislation

(1)Subject to the provisions of this Act, where a local authority are satisfied that it is expedient to promote or oppose any private legislation F1. . ., the local authority may, in accordance with the procedure provided by this section, promote or oppose the same accordingly and may defray the expenses incurred in relation thereto.

(2)A resolution of a local authority to promote or oppose private legislation under subsection (1) above shall be—

(a)passed by a majority of the whole number of the members of the authority at a meeting of the authority held after ten clear days’ notice of the meeting and of its purpose has been given by advertisement in one or more newspapers circulating in the area of the authority, such notice being given in addition to the ordinary notice required to be given for the convening of a meeting of the authority; and

(b)in the case of the promotion of private legislation, confirmed by a like majority at a further such meeting convened in accordance with paragraph (a) above and held as soon as may be after the expiration of fourteen days after

[F2(i)] the draft of the provisional order has been submitted to the Secretary of State in accordance with the provisions of the Act of 1936 [F2 ; or

(ii)the Bill has been introduced in the Scottish Parliament]

and, if the resolution is not confirmed, the local authority shall take all necessary steps to withdraw the same.

(3)Where under section 2 of the Act of 1936, the Chairman of Committees of the House of Lords and the Chairman of Ways and Means in the House of Commons are of opinion that provisions contained in a draft provisional order ought to be dealt with by private Bill and not by provisional order, the determination of the Chairmen shall forthwith be reported to the local authority concerned, and unless the authority resolve to proceed with the promotion of a private Bill dealing with the matters to which the said provisions relate or any of them, such a private Bill shall not be promoted, but if such a private Bill is to be promoted, the proceedings of the authority with respect to the promotion of a provisional order under this section shall be deemed to apply to the promotion of such a Bill.

(4)In ascertaining for the purpose of this section the whole number of members of a local authority, no account shall be taken of any vacancy which may at the time exist in the membership of the authority.

(5)No payment shall be made by a local authority to a member of the authority for acting as counsel or agent in promoting or opposing private legislation under this section.

(6)Nothing in this section shall affect the right of any local authority connected with the locality to which any draft provisional order referred to Commissioners under the Act of 1936 relates to make a report to the Commissioners respecting the provisions of the draft order.

(7)In this section—

• “Act of 1936” means the M1Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act 1936;

• “provisional order” means a provisional order under the Act of 1936;

[F3 [F3“private legislation” includes–

(a)a provisional order and the confirmation Bill relating thereto under the Act of 1936;

(b)any local or personal Bill in Parliament; and

(c)any private Bill in the Scottish Parliament.]]

Miscellaneous

83 Power of local authorities to incur expenditure for certain purposes not otherwise authorised

(1)F1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2)F1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F2(2A). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F2(2B). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2C)F1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2D)F1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3)A local authority may, F3. . . incur expenditure on contributions to any of the following funds, that is to say—

(a)the funds of any charitable body in furtherance of its work in the United Kingdom; or

(b)the funds of any body which provides any public service in the United Kingdom otherwise than for the purposes of gain; or

(c)any fund which is raised in connection with a particular event directly affecting persons resident in the United Kingdom on behalf of whom a public appeal for contributions has been made by a [F4convener of a local authority, a convener] of a community council, a lord-lieutenant or by a body of which any of these persons is a member [F5or by such a person or body as is referred to in section 137(3)(c) of the Local Government Act 1972].

F6(3A). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4)F1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4AA)F1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4A)F1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4B)F1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5)F1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(7)F1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .