b'Chapter 7 Useful Local Government Powers Local Government Act 1972 7.1 The Local Government Act 1972 (the 1972 Act) seems as good a place as any to look for statutory charging powers as this statute sets out the basic framework of local government. Some of the most useful income-generating powers are contained between sections 139145 of the 1972 Act. Section 139 is not an express charging power, but it is included as it enables local authorities to accept, hold and administer, for the purposes of their functions, gifts of property (real or personal) for the benefit of the inhabitants of their area or some part of it, gifts made for those purposes. Under this section authorities may also execute any work (including works maintenance or improvement) incidental to or consequential on the exercise of the powers conferred by this section. Section 141 is not a charging power but it enables the council of a non-metropolitan county to conduct, or assist in the conducting of, investigations into, and the collection of information relating to, any matters concerning the county or any part of the county and to make, or assist in the making of, arrangements whereby any such information and the results of any such investigation are made available to any other local authority in the county, any government department or the public. The section is silent on the issue of whether charges can be imposed and any authority wishing to do so will have to decide for itself whether this falls within the necessary implication test enunciated by Lord Lowry in the Richmond case or else use more recent powers to charge such as section 93 of the Local Government Act 2003 (the 2003 Act) which permits cost recovery charging. Similarly, section 142 enables a local authority to make, or assist in the making of, arrangements whereby the public may, upon application, readily obtain, either at premises specially maintained for the purpose or otherwise, information concerning the services available within the area of the authority (as well as other information relating to the functions of the authority) provided either by the authority, other authorities, a government department or by charities and other voluntary organisations. Authorities may arrange for publication within their area as to the services available. Under section 142(2) a local authority may: (a)arrange for the publication within their area of information relating to the functions of the authority; and (b)arrange for the delivery of lectures and addresses and the holding of discussions on such matters; and (c)arrange for the display of pictures, cinematograph films or models or the holding of exhibitions relating to such matters; and 99'