Paragraph 1 I1I2
After receiving a merger application or after giving notice as described in section 129(6), the Welsh Ministers may direct a merging council or restructuring council that—
the council must not carry out a restricted activity unless it has considered the opinion of a specified person or persons on the appropriateness of carrying out the activity;
the council must not carry out a restricted activity unless the written consent of a specified person or persons has been given for the activity to be carried out.
The restricted activities are—
making a relevant land acquisition or disposal;
entering into a relevant contract or agreement;
making a relevant capital acquisition;
giving a relevant grant or other financial assistance;
making a relevant loan;
including an amount of financial reserves in a calculation under section 32 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (c. 14);
starting the process of recruiting (including by way of internal recruitment)—
a non-statutory chief officer mentioned in section 2(7) of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42);
a deputy chief officer mentioned in section 2(8) of that Act.
The Welsh Ministers may direct a merging council or restructuring council seeking to appoint or designate a person to a restricted post (including from among its existing officers) to comply with specified requirements about the appointment or designation.
“Restricted post”, in relation to a merging council or restructuring council, means—
its chief executive appointed under section 54;
its monitoring officer designated under section 5(1) of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989;
a statutory chief officer mentioned in section 2(6) of that Act;
its head of democratic services designated under section 8(1) of the 2011 Measure.
A merging council or restructuring council given a direction under sub-paragraph (1) must—
provide details of any proposal to carry out a restricted activity to any person or persons specified for the purpose of sub-paragraph (1)(a) or (b) in respect of that activity;
provide the Welsh Ministers with details of a proposal to appoint or designate a person to a restricted post where any requirements apply in relation to the appointment or designation by virtue of a direction under sub-paragraph (3).
If an opinion given for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(a) is that it would not be appropriate for a merging council or restructuring council to carry out a restricted activity but the council decides to carry it out, the council must publish its reasons for making that decision.
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A direction given under this paragraph takes effect from the date specified.
In this paragraph, “specified” means specified in a direction given under this paragraph.
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Annotations
Textual amendments
- F1
Sch. 12 para. 1(7) omitted (1.4.2025) by virtue of Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024 (asc 5), s. 72(4), Sch. 1 para. 15(10); S.I. 2024/1337, art. 3(e)
- F2
Sch. 12 para. 1(10) omitted (5.5.2022) by virtue of Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 (asc 1), s. 175(7), Sch. 5 para. 20; S.I. 2021/231, art. 6(s)
Commencement
- I1
Sch. 12 para. 1 in force at 21.1.2021 for specified purposes, see s. 175(1)(f)(2)(b)(ii)(m)(7)
- I2
Sch. 12 para. 1 in force at 1.4.2021 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2021/297, art. 2(j)