Commentary on provisions of Act Combined Authorities and EPBs: areas and procedure Section 11: Removal of geographical restrictions in relation to EPBs
Section 11 removes the current geographical restrictions in relation to the establishment of Economic Prosperity Boards (EPBs). Subsections (1) - (4) remove the requirements in the 2009 Act which prevent EPB areas from being non-contiguous or doughnut shaped (i.e. member areas surrounding a local government area which is not part of the EPB area).
	Subsection (5) inserts new subsections (3A) and (3B) into section 99 of the 2009 Act. These subsections require that when the Secretary of State is considering making orders to establish EPBs for areas where part of the proposed area of the EPB is separated from the rest of the EPB area, or where a local government area which is not part of the EPB area is surrounded by the EPB area, he must additionally have regard to the likely impact of the creation of the EPB on economic development or regeneration in neighbouring local authority areas.
	Subsection (6) inserts new subsections (2A) and (2B) into section 102 of the 2009 Act. These apply when the Secretary of State is considering making changes to an existing EPB following a proposal from the area concerned. If the proposed area of the EPB includes part of the area which is separated from the rest of the area or if an area outside the EPB area is surrounded by local government areas within the area, the Secretary of State must have regard to the likely impact of the changes to the EPB on economic development or regeneration in each local government area adjacent to any part of the EPB area.