Decision making

 
 

London Local Authorities Legislation

Each year the London Boroughs have an opportunity to deposit a Parliamentary Bill seeking new or amending legislation. 

Westminster has promoted legislation by itself for the benefit of the inhabitants of the City; i.e. The City of Westminster Act 1996 which deals with the control of sex establishments and the City of Westminster Act 1999 which deals with the control of street trading.

The London Boroughs also have an opportunity to seek new and amending legislation collectively by way of a London Local Authorities Bill.  When such a Bill passes into law it is titled, "London Local Authorities Act" followed by the year the Act receives the Royal Assent.

Legislation requires that these collective Bills must be promoted by one lead borough on behalf of each of the London Boroughs and since the demise of the Greater London Council in the 1980’s Westminster City Council has undertaken this role.

London Councils works closely with the City Council as co-ordinator for the Bills and each year they write to each of the London Boroughs seeking proposals for new and amending legislation.  The proposals are collated and a report is submitted to the Leaders’ Committee of London Councils seeking approval to promote new legislation.

A firm of parliamentary agents is retained to assist with drafting the Bill and to steer the Bill through the parliamentary process.  The London Boroughs have employed Sharpe Pritchard, a firm of solicitors and parliamentary agents, in respect of each of the past London Local Authorities Bills.  

The provisions in the Bill are called clauses and when the Bill becomes an Act of Parliament these clauses become known as sections. 

Each of the local authorities that made proposals for legislation is provided with a draft clause and consulted throughout the passage of the Bill through the parliamentary process.  These authorities will be required to provide a witness to give evidence to the Select Committees of both the Lords and the Commons in support of the clause proposed by their authority.  

London Local Authority Bills are known as Private Bills and they are treated somewhat differently to Bills introduced by the government.  Government Bills begin their parliamentary process in the House of Commons before moving to the House of Lords.  London Local Authority Bills can, and often do, commence the parliamentary process in the Lords and then move to the Commons.

Private Bills may be deposited in Parliament in the November of any year and can take anything from 12 months to 3 years to complete the Parliamentary process. 

As at the date that this note was posted on the web site the following London Local Acts have been passed and may be accessed via the links provided below –

In addition to promoting legislation for the London boroughs, the City Council has also promoted its own legislation, namely the City of Westminster Act 1996, which provides the power to serve closure notices in respect of unlicensed sex establishments, and the City of Westminster Act 1999, which provides for a licensing regime for street trading, with enforcement powers to control unlicensed trading. These Acts may be accessed via the links provided below

Users should take care when accessing these Acts.  Some of the earlier Acts have been amended by subsequent London Local Authorities Acts and indeed, government legislation.  The Acts appear in their original form.  Before taking any action under the above legislation you are advised to contact Gary Blackwell, Head of Litigation, Legal Services, 15th Floor, City Hall.  Telephone number 0207 641 2718.  E-mail – gblackwell@westminster.gov.uk.