Part 8: Public Authority Land Section 209: Power to direct bodies to dispose of land
The purpose of this section is to enable the Secretary of State to direct certain public authorities to dispose of land. To achieve that this section amends section 98 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980.
	The existing section 98 contains a power for the Secretary of State to direct a public authority to dispose of land where the Secretary of State considers the land is not being sufficiently used for that authority’s functions. This section adds a further power of direction to section 98 which can be exercised only in circumstances specified by the Secretary of State in regulations.
	For these purposes a relevant public authority is anybody to which section 98 applies and which is also required to prepare a report on surplus land under section 184 (section 98 applies to bodies which are listed in Schedule 16 to the 1980 Act and the Secretary of State can amend Schedule 16 by order).
	The new power of direction is subject to the same conditions as the existing power of direction in section 98. A direction can only be made after the authority concerned has had an opportunity to make representations. If representations are received then a direction cannot be given unless the Secretary of State considers the disposal can be made without serious detriment to the performance of the authority’s functions.