Explanatory note

Under Part I (competition) of the Local Government Act 1988, work falling within certain defined activities may only be carried out by local and other authorities if certain conditions are fulfilled.

This Order provides that certain defined activities shall not be treated as such so long as specified conditions are satisfied. Article 2 extends exemption from the requirements of the Act in relation to defined activities of supervision of parking, management of vehicles and security work where the work concerned costs no more than £100,000 per year.

Article 3 provides that the defined activities of legal services and construction and property services, financial services, information technology services and personnel services are not to be treated as defined activities provided that they consist of work undertaken under works contracts and the conditions specified are fulfilled. Special provision is made in relation to police authorities.

Article 4, which applies in England only, extends the period of exemption in relation to works contracts entered into by county councils in areas undergoing reorganisation.