Commentary on Sections Schedule 17: Powers of National Assembly for Wales
623.Paragraph 1 provides for amendments to Schedule 5 to the Government of Wales Act 2006 (c.32) (Assembly Measures) that will introduce a number of matters into “Field 12: local government”.
624.Paragraph 2 provides that an Assembly Measure may make provision for and in connection with the following matters:
625.Matter 12.1: The constitution of a new county borough or county in Wales; the abolition or alteration of an existing county borough or county in Wales; the establishment of a council for a new county borough or county in Wales and the abolition of existing county and county borough councils in Wales; and, the alteration of a police boundary in Wales, as a consequence of an alteration to a local government boundary in Wales but in the latter case only with the consent of the Secretary of State.
626.Matter 12.2: The making, coming into force and confirming of a byelaw.
627.Matter 12.3: The conduct of elected members, co-opted members and employees of the following authorities in Wales: county, county boroughs, community councils, fire and rescue authorities, and National Park authorities. The amendment includes provision giving the Assembly certain legislative competence concerning the making and handling of allegations that a member or co-opted member of a police authority in Wales has breached their authority's code of conduct, although an Assembly Measure containing such provision may require Secretary of State consent under Part 3 of Schedule 5 to the 2006 Act.
628.Matter 12.4: County council and county borough council strategies for promoting or improving the economic, social and environmental well-being of local authority areas in Wales or contributing to sustainable development in the United Kingdom.
629.Matter 12.5: The making of arrangements by specified authorities in Wales to secure improvement in the exercise of their functions, i.e. provisions equivalent to the best value duties in Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1999; the making of arrangements by such authorities for the involvement in the exercise of their functions of people who are likely to be affected by or interested in the exercise of those functions; the assessment and inspection of the performance of such authorities. The specified authorities include a county council or county borough council in Wales, a fire and rescue authority in Wales and a National Park authority for a National Park in Wales.
630.Paragraphs 3 and 4 provide that an Assembly Measure can only alter the boundary of a police area in Wales with the consent of the Secretary of State.