Commentary Part 1: Local Government Chapter 1: General powers of authorities Section 4: Limits on doing things for commercial purpose in exercise of the general power
14.Section 4 restricts the ability of a local authority to do things for a commercial purpose using the general power. The power does not authorise authorities to trade in a service with a person to whom they are already statutorily obliged to provide it. They must also only trade commercially through a company. These provisions reflect the trading powers in section 95 of the Local Government Act 2003