Commentary on Sections and Schedules Part 2 – DUTIES OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND OTHER BODIES IN ENGLAND (Sections 19 to 25) Section 22: Local child poverty needs assessment
97.Section 22 requires a responsible local authority, as part of the arrangements to co-operate made under section 21, to prepare and publish an assessment of the needs of children living in poverty its area. Partner authorities must co-operate with the local authority in preparing a needs assessment.
98.Subsection (2) gives the Secretary of State the power to make regulations about local child poverty needs assessments. Subsection (3) sets out the things that the regulations can make provision about. The intention is that the regulations will set out those matters which a responsible local authority must consider in its child poverty needs assessment, while giving the authority flexibility to consider other matters that it considers appropriate.
99.Subsection (4) requires the responsible local authority and each partner authority to have regard to any guidance that the Secretary of State gives to them about how they should exercise their functions under this section.