1.These explanatory notes relate to the Local Government Act which received Royal Assent on 28 July 2000. They have been prepared by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR), with the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales, in order to assist the reader in understanding the Act. They do not form part of the Act and have not been endorsed by Parliament.
2.The notes need to be read in conjunction with the Act. They are not, and are not meant to be, a comprehensive description of the Act. So where a section or part of a section does not seem to require any explanation or comment, none is given.
3.The Act covers various aspects of local authorities and is in six Parts:
	promotion of economic, social and environmental well-being (Part I);
	arrangements with respect to executives, including elected mayors (Part II);
	conduct of local government members and employees (Part III);
	elections (Part IV);
	miscellaneous provisions including: surcharge and advisory notices; maladministration; welfare services; allowances and pensions for local authority members; indemnification of councillors and council officers; social services functions; charging for the provision of childcare by local authorities; and the prohibition on the promotion of homosexuality (Part V); and
	supplemental provisions including orders and regulations; arrangements in Wales; and commencement (Part VI).
Introduction