Section 15J Joint committeesF1

(1)

This section applies if one or more local planning authorities agree with one or more county councils in relation to any area of such a council for which there is also a district council to establish a joint committee to be, for the purposes of this Part, the local planning authority—

(a)

for the area specified in the agreement;

(b)

in respect of such purposes as are so specified.

(2)

The Secretary of State may by regulations constitute a joint committee to be the local planning authority—

(a)

for the area;

(b)

in respect of those purposes.

(3)

Such regulations—

(a)

must specify the authority or authorities and county council or councils (the “constituent authorities”) which are to constitute the joint committee;

(b)

may make provision as to such other matters as the Secretary of State thinks are necessary or expedient to facilitate the exercise by the joint committee of its functions.

(4)

Regulations under subsection (3)(b) may include provision—

(a)

corresponding to provisions relating to joint committees in Part 6 of the Local Government Act 1972;

(b)

applying (with or without modifications) such enactments relating to local authorities as the Secretary of State thinks appropriate;

(c)

modifying the application of this Part in relation to the joint committee.

(5)

For the purposes of subsection (4) a local authority is any of the following—

(a)

a county council;

(b)

a district council;

(c)

a London borough council.

(6)

If regulations under this section are annulled in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament—

(a)

with effect from the date of the resolution the joint committee ceases to be the local planning authority as mentioned in subsection (2);

(b)

anything which the joint committee (as the local planning authority) was required to do for the purposes of this Part must be done for their area by each local planning authority which were a constituent authority of the joint committee;

(c)

each of those local planning authorities must revise their local plan timetable accordingly.

(7)

Nothing in this section or section 15JA confers on a local planning authority constituted by virtue of regulations under this section any function in relation to section 13 or 14 (survey of area).

(8)

This section and section 15JA are subject to the requirement in section 15C(2) that only one local plan may have effect in relation to the area of a local planning authority (including one constituted by virtue of regulations under this section) at any one time.

(9)

The policies contained in any local plan or supplementary plan adopted by the joint committee in the exercise of its functions under this Part must be taken for the purposes of the planning Acts to be the policies of each of the constituent authorities which are a local planning authority.

(10)

Subsection (11) applies to any function—

(a)

which is conferred on a local planning authority (within the meaning of the principal Act) under or by virtue of the planning Acts, and

(b)

which relates to the authority’s local plan timetable, local plan or supplementary plan.

(11)

If the authority is a constituent authority of a joint committee references to the authority’s local plan timetable, local plan or supplementary plan must be construed, in relation to that function, as including references to the timetable or plan of the joint committee.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: Ss. 15A-15LH and cross-headings substituted for ss. 15-37 and cross-heading (3.3.2026 for the purpose of making regulations only, excluding ss. 15A-15AI, 15K and 15LE(2)(a)(b)(c)(k)(l)(3); 25.3.2026 in so far as not already in force for the insertion of ss. 15B(1)(2)(a)(c)-(i)(3)-(12), 15BA-15C, 15CA(1)-(6)(a)-(g)(i)(7)(8), 15CB-15EA, 15G-15HA, 15HC-15JB, 15L-15LD, 15LE(1)(2)(d)-(j)(m)-(p)(3)(4), 15LF-15LG and 15LH (in part), otherwise prosp.) by Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c. 55), s. 255(3)(b), Sch. 7 (with s. 247); S.I. 2026/169, regs. 2, 3(b) (with Schs. 1, 2) (as amended by S.I. 2026/333, regs. 1(2), 2)

Notes on Part 2

Modifications

C1: Pt. 2 modified (temp.) (28.11.2008) by Local Government (Structural Changes) (Transitional Arrangements) (No.2) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/2867), regs. 1(1), 21(1), 23(2) (with reg. 1(2))
C2: Pt. 2 modified (25.3.2026) by The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (Local Planning) (Modification and Consequential Amendments) (England) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/170), regs. 1(2), 7
C3: Pt. 2 applied (25.3.2026) by The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/186), regs. 1(2), 78(8) (with Sch.)
C4: Pt. 2 modified (16.4.2026) by S.I. 2026/170, reg. 7A (as inserted by The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (Local Planning) (Modification and Consequential Amendments) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/350), regs. 1(2), 2)