Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973

Valid from 30/10/1995

F1171A Functions to include promotion of economic development.S

(1)Subject to section 171B of this Act, the functions of a local authority shall include the taking of such steps as they may from time to time consider appropriate for promoting the economic development of their area.

(2)Subject to the said section 171B, and without prejudice to any other provision made by or under this Act, those steps may include participation in and the encouragement of, and provision of financial and other assistance for—

(a)the setting up or expansion of any commercial, industrial or public undertaking—

(i)which is to be or is situated in the authority’s area; or

(ii)the setting up or expansion of which appears likely to increase the opportunities for employment of persons living in that area; and

(b)the creation or protection of opportunities for employment with any such undertaking or with any commercial, industrial or public undertaking, opportunities for employment with which have been or appear likely to be made available to persons living in that area.

(3)For the purposes of this section, the cases in which a local authority shall be treated as providing financial assistance to any person shall include the cases where they do or agree to do any of the following, that is to say—

(a)make a grant to that person;

(b)make a loan to that person or provide him with any further form of credit;

(c)guarantee the performance of any of that person’s obligations;

(d)indemnify that person in respect of any liability, loss or damage;

(e)invest in that person’s undertaking, in the case of a body corporate, by acquiring share or loan capital in that body or otherwise;

(f)provide that person with any property, services or other financial benefit (including the remission in whole or in part of any liability or obligation) for no consideration or for a consideration which is less than the best that could reasonably be obtained;

(g)join with any other person in doing anything falling within paragraphs (a) to (f) above.

(4)The power conferred on a local authority under subsection (1) above includes power for such authority to engage in activities outside their area for the purpose of promoting the economic development of their area.

(5)Where, in any financial year, a local authority propose to engage in activities such as are mentioned in subsection (4) above outside the United Kingdom, they shall, before the beginning of that financial year—

(a)prepare a document setting out their proposals for engagement in such activities; and

(b)submit that document to the Secretary of State for approval.

(6)Where the Secretary of State approves the proposals set out in any document submitted under subsection (5) above, he may make his approval subject to such conditions as he considers necessary or expedient.

(7)At any time during the financial year to which a document such as is mentioned in subsection (5) above relates—

(a)a local authority may submit to the Secretary of State amendments of the proposals contained in that document; and

(b)subsection (6) above shall apply in relation to those amendments as it applies in relation to proposals submitted in pursuance of subsection (5) above.

(8)The exercise by a local authority of any of their powers under this section shall be subject to the provisions of section 90 of this Act.