| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| Long title | An Act to make provision imposing on local and certain other authorities requirements relating to economy, efficiency and effectiveness; and to make provision for the regulation of council tax and precepts. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 1999 c.27 |
| Territorial extent | England and Wales |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 27 July 1999 |
| Commencement | from 10 August 1999 |
Status: Current legislation | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Text of the Local Government Act 1999 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The Local Government Act 1999 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom, applicable to a wide range of local authorities in England and Wales. It was promoted by a Labour government, in the first years of the First Blair ministry, and was described, in 2000, as "arguably most significant local government legislation for a decade".[1]
Part 1 of the Act introduced legal requirements for continuous improvement of services within a Best Value framework, expressed in terms of economy, efficiency and effectiveness. It mandated a transition from previous requirements for compulsory competitive tendering. It also introduced a regime of audit and inspection to assure the implementation and operation of Best Value, coupled with new powers of central government intervention in authorities failing to meet Best Value requirements.[1]
Part 2 of the Act replaced a prior system of universal caps on authority precepts and taxes, in favour of discretionary reserve capping powers, providing flexibility to the Secretary of State in deciding whether to intervene in authority budgeting.[2]
Provisions of the Act apply to local authorities (i.e. local government councils) as well as police, fire, waste, passenger transport, national park, development agency, and other authorities.[3][4]
- ^ a b Vincent-Jones 2000, p. 84.
- ^ Vincent-Jones 2000, pp. 89–90.
- ^ "Local Government Act 1999, Section 1". legislation.gov.uk. 27 July 1999.
- ^ Vincent-Jones 2000, pp. 85–86.