Commentary Part 6: Economic Prosperity Boards and Combined Authorities Section 97 – Review by authorities: new EPB
205.Subsection (1) provides that any two or more authorities referred to in subsection (2) may review the effectiveness and efficiency of arrangements to promote economic development and regeneration within the geographical area covered by the review. Where a review is conducted by the county council, the review area must include the whole of any one or more of the districts within the county or, if there are no such areas, the whole area of the county council. Where it is conducted by the council for a district, the review area must include that district.
206.Subsection (5) enables a review area to include counties or districts the councils for which are not conducting the review. There is no compulsion on the councils of those areas included in the review under subsection (5) to then be part of a section 95 scheme, but if the conclusion of the review is to establish an EPB they can be included in the scheme if they agree to be included.