Commentary on Sections Exercise of functions by members of local authorities in England Section 237: Exercise of functions under section 236: records
566.The purpose of this section is to ensure transparency and accountability. It empowers the Secretary of State to make regulations to ensure that records are kept of decisions or actions taken by councillors under section 236, and that such records are deposited with the local authority. The local authority must make the records available for inspection by members of public. If certified in accordance with section 41(2C) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 (inserted bysubsection (3)), copies of such records are evidence, for the purposes of court proceedings, of the terms of the decision, or nature of the action, which they describe.