The Act – Section by Section Part 1  - Best Value and Accountability Section 7 – Local authority contracts: relaxation of exclusion of non-commercial considerations
22.Section 7 amends section 17(5) of the Local Government Act 1988 (c.9) to allow local authorities to take into consideration issues previously excluded from commercial contractual negotiations which relate to employment practices. Subsection (2)provides that these issues may only be considered in circumstances where they are relevant to (a) the local authority securing Best Value; (b) the local authority being satisfied that a contractual partner will be able to comply with the terms specified in the contract; and (c) to the extent that staff transfers and other issues relating to the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 are concerned under the contract.