Section 31 Dissolution of joint committeeF1I1I2
This section applies if a constituent authority requests the Secretary of State to revoke an order constituting a joint committee as the local planning authority for any area or in respect of any matter.
The Secretary of State may revoke the order.
Any step taken by the joint committee in relation to a local development scheme or a local development document must be treated for the purposes of any corresponding scheme or document as a step taken by a successor authority.
A successor authority is—
a local planning authority which were a constituent authority of the joint committee;
a joint committee constituted by order under section 29 for an area which does not include an area which was not part of the area of the joint committee mentioned in subsection (1).
If the revocation takes effect at any time when an independent examination is being carried out in relation to a local development document the examination must be suspended.
But if before the end of the period prescribed for the purposes of this subsection a successor authority falling within subsection (4)(a) requests the Secretary of State to do so he may direct that—
the examination is resumed in relation to the corresponding document;
any step taken for the purposes of the suspended examination has effect for the purposes of the resumed examination.
The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision as to what is a corresponding scheme or document.
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)
Commencement
- I1
S. 31 in force at 6.8.2004 for specified purposes by S.I. 2004/2097, art. 2
- I2
S. 31 in force at 28.9.2004 for E. so far as not already in force by S.I. 2004/2202, art. 2(b)
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)