Chapter 2: Other Provision Local authority governance Section 71: Timings for changes in governance arrangements Effect
This section amends the 2000 Act. Subsection (2) amends section 9KC of the 2000 Act (which applies a moratorium on changing local authority governance arrangements by resolution where a resolution has been implemented less than 5 years previously). It inserts new provisions in 9KC to establish a process for a local authority which has adopted its current governance model following a resolution to apply to the Secretary of State for consent to change its governance model (again by resolution) before the expiry of the moratorium period of 5 years.
	New section 9KC (4A) – (4C) inserted by section 71 (2)(b) provides for the circumstances under which the local authority can submit a proposal and the content of the proposal. New section 9KC(4D) provides that the Secretary of State may consent to proposal for a local authority to change its governance arrangements only if the Secretary of State considers that the proposed change in governance arrangements is likely to improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of some or all of the people who live or work in the area.  New section 9KC(4F) includes a power for the Secretary of State to make regulations setting out the matters to be addressed by a proposal and how the proposal is to be considered.
	Subsection (3) amends section 9MF of the 2000 Act (which applies a moratorium on holding a referendum on changing local authority governance arrangements where a referendum has been held less than 10 years previously). It inserts new provisions in 9MF to establish a similar process to subsection (2) for a local authority to apply to the Secretary of State for consent to hold a referendum before the expiry of the moratorium period of 10 years.
	New section 9MF (3A)-(3F), inserted by subsection (3)(b) provides for circumstances under which the local authority can submit a proposal and the content of that proposal. New section 9MF (3D) provides that the Secretary of State may consent to a proposal for a local authority to hold a referendum on its governance arrangements before the expiry of a moratorium only if the Secretary of State considers that the proposed change in governance arrangements is likely to improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of some or all of the people who live or work in the area.  New section 9MF (3F) includes a power for the Secretary of State to make regulations setting out the matters to be addressed by a proposal and how the proposal is to be considered.