Summary and Background Part 1: Marine Management Organisation Supplementary provisions Section 20: Agreements with certain harbour authorities
94.This section makes additional provision in relation to agreements with harbour authorities which are local authorities. This provision is consequent upon the changes made to local government decision-making under the Local Government Act 2000.
95.Under that Act and subordinate legislation each function of a principal local authority is administered either directly by the full council or through executive arrangements, depending on the function. Detailed arrangements for the performance of the functions are specified in regulations made under section 13 of the 2000 Act.
96.Where, by agreement, a function is to be discharged on behalf of the MMO by a local authority exercising the functions of a harbour authority, the allocation of responsibility for the performance of that type of function under the 2000 Act and subordinate legislation (whether full council or executive) will apply. The full council (or executive, as applicable) of that authority may use various usual powers of delegation (for example to committees and officers of that same authority) to perform the function.
97.This section also enables local authorities which are also harbour authorities to work together jointly to carry out functions delegated to them by the MMO.