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Section 239: Power to promote or oppose local or personal Bills.

Local Government Act 1972 · 1972 c. 70View on legislation.gov.uk

Part XI: General Provisions as to Local Authorities

Subject to the provisions of this Act, where a local authority in England, other than a parish council, are satisfied that it is expedient to promote, or any local authority in England are satisfied that it is expedient to oppose, any local or personal Bill in Parliament, the local authority may, but only in accordance with the procedure hereinafter provided by this section, promote or oppose the Bill accordingly, and may defray the expenses incurred in relation thereto.

A resolution of a local authority to promote or oppose a Bill under subsection (1) above shall be—

passed by a majority of the whole number of the members of the authority at a meeting of the authority held after the requisite notice of the meeting and of its purpose has been given by advertisement in one or more local newspapers circulating in the area of the authority, such notice being given in addition to the ordinary notice required to be given for the convening of a meeting of the authority; and
in the case of the promotion of a Bill, confirmed by a like majority at a further such meeting convened in accordance with paragraph (a) above and held as soon as may be after the expiration of fourteen days after the Bill has been deposited in Parliament and, if the resolution is not confirmed, the local authority shall take all necessary steps to withdraw the Bill.

For the purposes of subsection (2) above the requisite notice is thirty clear days' notice in the case of promotion of a Bill and ten clear days' notice in the case of opposition to a Bill.

The power conferred on a local authority by subsection (1) above shall be in substitution for any power conferred on that authority by a local Act.

The powers conferred on a local authority by sub-section (1) above shall also be exercisable by a joint authority , an economic prosperity board , a combined authority and a combined county authority . . ..

No payment shall be made by a an authority to a member of the authority for acting as counsel or agent in promoting or opposing a Bill under this section.

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This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. These source and reuse terms cover the legislation text, not Remedy's commentary.

Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.