23.Section 6 makes provision for a situation where 2 or more local authorities might want to work together to produce a community wealth building action plan which covers the areas of all of the local authorities who have chosen to work together. Subsection (1) provides that this is permitted. Subsection (2) requires local authorities who have chosen to work together to act jointly in relation to the action plan in all respects – this will mean, for example, that the consultation duty contained in section 5(6) must be carried out by the local authorities acting together, instead of separately. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) ensures that where local authorities have chosen to work together, references in the Act to a local authority, or to the area of a local authority, are to be read as references to the authorities who are working together. The duties imposed on the relevant public bodies in relation to action plans will apply in relation to the combined area, to the extent relevant to each body.
The Act Commentary on provisions Section 6 – local authorities acting jointly