{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/local-government-and-elections-wales-act-2021/section-139",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/local-government-and-elections-wales-act-2021/section-139.json",
  "legislation": "asc/2021/1",
  "legislation_title": "Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/local-government-and-elections-wales-act-2021",
  "path": "section/139",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "139",
  "heading": "Prohibition of changes to executive arrangements",
  "text": "(1) After receiving a merger application the Welsh Ministers may direct a merging council that—\n(a) until merger regulations applying to the council come into force, or\n(b) until it receives notice under section 121(5),\nit must not take any steps (including the holding of a referendum) to change its form of executive.\n(2) After giving notice as described in section 129(6), the Welsh Ministers may direct a restructuring council that—\n(a) until restructuring regulations applying to the council come into force, or\n(b) until it receives notice under section 134(3),\nit must not take any steps (including the holding of a referendum) to change its form of executive.\n(3) While a direction under subsection (1) or (2) has effect in relation to a council, the council is not subject to any duty imposed by or under an enactment to take steps to change its form of executive.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 139(1) in force at 21.1.2021, see s. 175(1)(f)(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I2",
      "text": "S. 139(3) in force at 21.1.2021 for specified purposes, see s. 175(1)(f)(2)(d)(ii)(7)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I3",
      "text": "S. 139(2) in force at 1.4.2021 by S.I. 2021/297, art. 2(d)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I4",
      "text": "S. 139(3) in force at 1.4.2021 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2021/297, art. 2(d)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asc/2021/1/section/139",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T20:17:57.648401+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}