Commentary Background – Parts 4 to 7 Section 69 - Duty of responsible local authorities to prepare economic assessment
152.This section requires principal local authorities to prepare an assessment of the economic conditions of their area.
153.Subsection (3) defines “principal local authorities” as county councils, district councils other than a council for a district for which there is a county council (unitary authorities), the Council of the Isles of Scilly, London boroughs and the City of London Corporation. Subsection (2) enables a responsible authority to revise its assessment, or any part or aspect of it, at any time. Subsection (4) places a duty on a principal local authority to consult such persons it considers appropriate.
154.Where the responsible authority is a county council, subsection (5) requires it to consult and seek the participation of the district councils within its area in carrying out its assessment. The county council must also have regard to any material produced by district councils in the discharge of their responsibilities under section 13 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, which requires them to keep under review matters which may be expected to affect the development of their area or the planning of its development. Subsection (5)(c) requires district councils to co-operate with the county council.
155.Subsection (6) requires principal local authorities to have regard to guidance issued by the Secretary of State setting out what an assessment should contain and how it should be prepared, when an assessment should be prepared and when it should be revised. Under subsection (7) the Secretary of State is required to consult representatives of local government and other such persons the Secretary of State considers appropriate before issuing guidance.