WLGA issues legal guidance on collaboration between Welsh local authorities
The Welsh Local Government Association has published guidance to explain the legal implications of collaborative working between the country’s local authorities.
The WLGA said the report provided “a comprehensive reference that will allow local government professionals and politicians to develop further arrangements for working together without having to take fresh legal advice at each and every turn”.
The guidance, which was prepared by law firm Trowers & Hamlins, covers:
- Policy;
- Legislation;
- Variants/options;
- Types/models;
- Procurement;
- Informal;
- Shared appointment/secondment;
- Contractual arrangements;
- Delegation of functions;
- Corporate;
- Joint Committee;
- Finance; and
- Next steps.
The report also has various appendices covering issues such as legal powers, the practical aspects of Teckal, and a guide to contract issues. It can be downloaded here.
The report points out that the Welsh Government has signalled that it is not in favour of further local authority reorganisation, and has made it clear that there needs to be greater collaboration across local authority boundaries.
However, it also highlights how the Welsh Government has recently given Welsh Ministers the power to amalgamate two or three government areas as long as they are satisfied that effective local government is unlikely to be achieved by the relevant local authorities using their collaborative powers.