55.Subsection (1) provides for a National Park authority to arrange for its functions to be carried out by a local authority on its behalf, or by another National Park authority.
56.Subsection (2) provides for the converse, for local authorities to be able to arrange for any of their functions (insofar as they are exercisable in relation to a National Park) to be carried out by a National Park authority.
57.Under subsection (3)provides that “function” in this context does not include a function of making subordinate legislation, or any function conferred by the Act. Under subsection (4) two National Park authorities may arrange to carry out functions jointly, and under subsection (5)these arrangements may include establishing a joint committee or for an officer carrying out the functions.
58.Under subsections (6) to (8) persons who are not members of any of the authorities making the arrangements may be members of the committee but a majority of the members of the committee must be members of those authorities. Those authorities must pay to a member of the joint committee such remuneration and allowances (if any) as the Scottish Ministers may determine. The joint committee must comply with directions given to it by the authorities making the arrangements.
59.Subsection (9) provides that such arrangements do not affect responsibility for exercising the functions in question.
Introduction Section 17:  Agency arrangements and joint operations