GENERAL INFORMATION FOR MEMBERS AND OFFICERS OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES Produced by the Local Government Unit, Department of Infrastructure August 2011 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 6 A. HISTORY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ................................................................. 7 1. The Structure of Local Government ......................................................................... 7 2. Reorganisation of Local Government ......................................................................7 B. STATUS AND FUNCTIONS OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES ...................................... 10 1. Nature and status of local authorities ..................................................................... 10 1.1 Districts ..................................................................................................... 10 1.2 Nature of local authorities ........................................................................... 10 2. Functions of local authorities ................................................................................. 12 2.1 Powers and duties ...................................................................................... 12 2.2 Scope of local authority functions................................................................. 12 2.3 Public information and advice ...................................................................... 13 2.4 Tourism ..................................................................................................... 13 2.5 Refuse collection ........................................................................................ 13 2.6 Street-lighting ............................................................................................ 14 2.7 Environmental Health .................................................................................. 14 2.8 Public conveniences .................................................................................... 15 2.9 Parks, playgrounds and other leisure facilities ............................................... 15 2.10 Control of dogs .......................................................................................... 15 2.11 Housing ..................................................................................................... 15 2.12 Car-parking ................................................................................................ 16 2.13 Street-cleaning ........................................................................................... 16 2.14 Building control .......................................................................................... 16 2.15 Planning .................................................................................................... 16 2.16 Sewerage ................................................................................................... 17 2.17 Libraries and museums ............................................................................... 17 2.18 Abandoned vehicles .................................................................................. 17 C. THE MAIN LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION ............................................ 18 1. LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1985 ............................................................................ 18 Part I Central supervision of local authorities ...................................................... 18 1. General ..................................................................................................... 18 2. Provision of assistance ................................................................................ 18 3. Inquiries, reports and returns ...................................................................... 18 4. Standards of performance...........................................................................18 2 5. Default powers .......................................................................................... 18 Part II Alteration of areas, etc. .......................................................................... 19 Part III — Proceedings of local authorities .............................................................. 19 1. Meetings ................................................................................................... 19 2. Attendance of the public ............................................................................. 19 3. Minutes ..................................................................................................... 20 4. Allowances ................................................................................................ 20 5. Pecuniary interests ..................................................................................... 20 Part IV — Discharge of Functions ........................................................................... 21 1. Delegation of functions ............................................................................... 21 2. Committees ............................................................................................... 21 3. Officers ..................................................................................................... 21 4. Premises ................................................................................................... 21 5. Land transactions.......................................................................................21 6. Standing orders ......................................................................................... 22 Part V — General provisions relating to local authorities .................................................. 22 1. Byelaws ..................................................................................................... 22 2. Personal liability ......................................................................................... 22 3. Other matters ............................................................................................ 22 Part VI — Financial Provisions ................................................................................ 23 1. Finance ..................................................................................................... 23 2. Funds ........................................................................................................ 23 3. Borrowing .................................................................................................. 23 4. Other matters ............................................................................................ 24 Part VII — Legal Proceedings................................................................................. 24 Part VIII — Miscellaneous and supplemental ........................................................... 24 2 LOCAL ELECTIONS ACT 1986 ................................................................................ 25 3 THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT 2001..............................................................................26 D. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ...................................................................... 27 1. Principles ................................................................................................... 27 2. Pecuniary interests ..................................................................................... 27 3. General disclosure ...................................................................................... 28 4. Penalty ...................................................................................................... 28 5. Officers ..................................................................................................... 28 E. CONFIDENTIALITY AND DATA PROTECTION............................................. 29 3 1. Confidentiality ............................................................................................ 29 2. Data Protection .......................................................................................... 29 F. LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE .................................................................... 30 1. Introduction............................................................................................... 30 2. Rates ........................................................................................................ 30 3. Government grants .................................................................................... 31 4. Money-laundering ...................................................................................... 31 G. EMPLOYMENT OF STAFF ................................................................................ 32 1. Job descriptions ......................................................................................... 32 2. Statement of particulars/Contract of Employment ......................................... 32 3. Remuneration ............................................................................................. 32 4. Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)...................................................33 5. Approval .................................................................................................... 33 6. Sex discrimination ...................................................................................... 33 7. Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 2001............................................................33 8. General ....................................................................................................