Local Government and Housing Act 1989

Voting rights of members of certain committees E+W+S

13 Voting rights of members of certain committees: England and Wales. E+W+S

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, a person who—

(a) is a member of a committee appointed under a power to which this section applies by a relevant authority and is not a member of that authority;

(b) is a member of a joint committee appointed under such a power by two or more relevant authorities and is not a member of any of those authorities; or

(c) is a member of a sub-committee appointed under such a power by such a committee as is mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) above and is not a member of the relevant authority, or one of the relevant authorities, which appointed that committee,

shall for all purposes be treated as a non-voting member of that committee, joint committee or, as the case may be, sub-committee.

(2) The powers to which this section applies are—

(a) the powers conferred on any relevant authority by subsection (1) of section 102 of the M1 Local Government Act 1972 (ordinary committees, joint committees and sub-committees);

F1 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F2 (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) Nothing in subsection (1) above shall require a person to be treated as a non-voting member of a committee or sub-committee falling within subsection (4) below; but, except—

(a) in the case of a sub-committee appointed by a committee falling within paragraph (e) of that subsection; and

(b) in such cases as may be prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State,

a person who is a member of a sub-committee falling within that subsection shall for all purposes be treated as a non-voting member of that sub-committee unless he is a member of the committee which appointed the sub-committee.

(4) A committee or sub-committee falls within this subsection if it is—

F3 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F4 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(c) a committee established in accordance with any regulations made by virtue of section 7 of the M2 Superannuation Act 1972 (regulations making provision for the superannuation of persons employed in local government service etc.);

F5 (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(e) a committee appointed under section 102(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (appointment of advisory committees by local authorities);

(f) a committee constituted in accordance with [F6 Part I of Schedule 33 to the Education Act 1996 (constitution of appeal committees for admission appeals etc.)];

[F7 (fa) an inshore fisheries and conservation authority for a district established under section 149 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009;]

[F8 (fb) a committee of a relevant authority which is the scheme manager (or scheme manager and pension board) of a scheme under section 1 of the Public Service Pensions Act 2013;]

(g) a committee established exclusively for the purpose of discharging such functions of a relevant authority as may be prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State;

(h) a sub-committee appointed by a committee falling within any of [F9 paragraphs (b) to (g)] above or such a sub-committee as is so prescribed.

[F10 (5) Nothing in this section shall prevent the appointment of a person who is not a member of a [F11 local authority] as a voting member of—

(a) any committee or sub-committee appointed by the local authority wholly or partly for the purpose of discharging any [F12 education functions of the authority],

(b) any joint committee appointed by two or more local authorities wholly or partly for the purpose of discharging any [F13 education functions of the authorities], or

(c) any sub-committee appointed by any such committee or joint committee wholly or partly for the purpose of discharging any of that committee’s functions with respect to education,

where that appointment is required [F14 either] by directions given by the Secretary of State under section 499 of the Education Act 1996 (power of Secretary of State to direct appointment of members of committees) [F15 or pursuant to regulations under subsection (6) of that section].]

[F16 (5ZA) Nothing in this section shall prevent the appointment of a police and crime commissioner as a voting member of—

(a) any committee or sub-committee appointed by a local authority in England wholly or partly for the purposes of discharging functions of a fire and rescue authority,

(b) any joint committee appointed by two or more local authorities in England wholly or partly for the purposes of discharging such functions, or

(c) any sub-committee appointed by any such committee or joint committee wholly or partly for the purposes of discharging such functions.

(5ZB) In subsection (5ZA) “local authority” does not include—

(a) a fire and rescue authority constituted by a scheme under section 2 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 or a scheme to which section 4 of that Act applies,

(b) a joint authority which is a metropolitan county fire and rescue authority, or

(c) the London Fire Commissioner.]

[F17 (5A) Nothing in this section shall prevent the appointment of a council manager of a local authority, or one other officer of that local authority in his place, as a voting member of a joint committee, or a sub-committee of such a committee, where—

(a) that local authority have a mayor and council manager executive F18 ; and

(b) the joint committee or the sub-committee has been appointed for the purpose of discharging functions which, as respects that local authority, are the responsibility of that executive.]

[F19 (6) The Secretary of State may, if it appears to him appropriate to do so inconsequence of the preceding provisions of this section, withdraw any approval given before the coming into force of this section in relation to any arrangements for the purposes of paragraph 1 of Part II of Schedule 1 to the said Act of 1944].

(7) Where a person is treated by virtue of this section as a non-voting member of any committee, joint committee or sub-committee, he shall not be entitled to vote at any meeting of the committee, joint committee or sub-committee on any question which falls to be decided at that meeting; and the reference in subsection (5) above to a voting member, in relation to any [F20 committee, joint committee or sub-committee appointed for the purpose mentioned in that subsection], is a reference to a person who is entitled to vote at any meeting of that committee or sub-committee on any question which falls to be decided at that meeting.

(8) In subsection (3) of section 102 of the M3 Local Government Act 1972, the words from “but at least” onwards (which require at least two-thirds of certain committees to be members of the appointing authority or authorities) shall be omitted.

(9) In this section—

• [F21 “council manager”, “executive” [F22 and “mayor and council manager executive]” have the same meaning as in Part II of the Local Government Act 2000 (arrangements with respect to executives etc.); F23 ...]

• [F24 “education functions” has the meaning given by section 579(1) of the Education Act 1996; and]

• F25 ...

• “relevant authority” means a local authority of any of the descriptions specified in [F26 paragraphs (a) to (f) [F27 , (h) to [F28 (jc)] or (n)]] of section 21(1) below or any parish or community council;

and references in this section to voting include references to making use of a casting vote.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 13(2)(b) repealed (1.4.1994) by 1993 c. 35, s. 307(1)(3), Sch. 19 para. 156(a), Sch. 21 Pt. II; S.I. 1994/507, art. 4(1), Sch. 2

F2 S. 13(2)(c) repealed (1.4.2005 for E., 1.4.2006 for W.) by Children Act 2004 (c. 31), Sch. 5 Pt. 4; S.I. 2005/394, art. 2(2)(g); S.I. 2006/885, art. 2(h)

F3 S. 13(4)(a) repealed (1.4.1995) by 1994 c. 29, s. 93, Sch. 9 Pt. I; S.I. 1994/3262, art. 4, Sch. (subject to art. 5)

F4 S. 13(4)(b) repealed (1.4.2010 for W., 1.4.2011 for E.) by Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (c. 23), s. 324(3), Sch. 22 Pt. 4; S.I. 2010/630, art. 3(b) (with arts. 8, 12); S.I. 2011/556, art. 2(2)(o) (with art. 2(3))

F5 S. 13(4)(d) repealed (1.4.1997) by 1995 c. 25, s. 120(3), Sch. 24 (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/2560, art. 2, Sch.

F6 Words in s. 13(4)(f) substituted (1.11.1996) by 1996 c. 56, ss. 582(1), 583(2), Sch. 37 Pt. I para. 96(1)(2) (with ss. 1(4), 561, 562, Sch. 39 paras. 30, 39)

F7 S. 13(4)(fa) inserted (1.10.2010) by Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (c. 23), s. 324(3), Sch. 14 para. 14; S.I. 2010/2195, art. 3(2)(l)

F8 S. 13(4)(fb) inserted (1.4.2014) by Public Service Pensions Act 2013 (c. 25), s. 41(2), Sch. 8 para. 15 (with Sch. 11 para. 8); S.I. 2014/839, art. 4(2)(h)

F9 Words in s. 13(4)(h) substituted (1.10.1994 for specified purposes otherwise 1.4.1995) by 1994 c. 29, ss. 43, 94(1), Sch. 4 para. 36(a); S.I. 1994/2025, art. 6; S.I. 1994/3262, art. 4, Sch. (subject to art. 5)

F10 S. 13(5) substituted (1.11.1996) by 1996 c. 56, ss. 582(1), 583(2), Sch. 37 Pt. I para. 96(1)(3) (with ss. 1(4), 561, 562, Sch. 39 paras. 30, 39)

F11 Words in s. 13(5) substituted (5.5.2010) by The Local Education Authorities and Children’s Services Authorities (Integration of Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1158), art. 1, Sch. 2 para. 38(4)(a)

F12 Words in s. 13(5)(a) substituted (5.5.2010) by The Local Education Authorities and Children’s Services Authorities (Integration of Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1158), art. 1, Sch. 2 para. 38(4)(b)

F13 Words in s. 13(5)(b) substituted (5.5.2010) by The Local Education Authorities and Children’s Services Authorities (Integration of Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1158), art. 1, Sch. 2 para. 38(4)(c)

F14 Word in s. 13(5) inserted (1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31, s. 140(1), Sch. 30, para. 22(a) (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1999/2323, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F15 Words in s. 13(5) inserted (1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31, s. 140(1), Sch. 30, para. 22(b) (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1999/2323, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F16 S. 13(5ZA)(5ZB) inserted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 3.4.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), ss. 7(8), 183(1)(5)(e); S.I. 2017/399, reg. 2, Sch. para. 3

F17 S. 13(5A) repealed (W.) (10.7.2011) by Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 4), ss. 34(8)(c)(i), 178(2), Sch. 4 Pt. B

F18 See regulations 11 and 12 of the Local Authorities (Arrangements for the Discharge of Functions) (England) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/2851) and the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Discharge of Functions) (Wales) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/2287 (W.175)).

F19 S. 13(6) repealed (1.4.1994) by 1993 c. 35, s. 307(1)(3), Sch. 19 para. 156(c), Sch. 21 Pt. II; S.I. 1994/507, art. 4(1), Sch. 2

F20 Words in s. 13(7) substituted (1.11.1996) by 1996 c. 56, ss. 582(1), 583(2), Sch. 37 Pt. I para. 96(1)(4) (with ss. 1(4), 561, 562, Sch. 39 paras. 30, 39)

F21 S. 13(9): definition inserted (E.) (18.5.2001) and (W.) (1.4.2002) by S.I. 2001/1517, art. 6(1)(b); S.I. 2002/803, art. 6(1)(b)

F22 Words in s. 13(9) repealed (W.) (10.7.2011) by Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 4), ss. 34(8)(c)(ii), 178(2), Sch. 4 Pt. B

F23 Word in s. 13(9) repealed (5.5.2010) by The Local Education Authorities and Children’s Services Authorities (Integration of Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1158), art. 1, Sch. 2 para. 38(5)(a), Sch. 3 Pt. 2

F24 Words in s. 13(9) inserted (5.5.2010) by The Local Education Authorities and Children’s Services Authorities (Integration of Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1158), art. 1, Sch. 2 para. 38(5)(b)

F25 S. 13(9): the definition of “foundation governors” and the “and” immediately following it repealed (1.11.1996) by 1996 c. 56, ss. 582(1)(2), 583(2), Sch. 37 Pt. I para. 96(1)(5), Sch. 38 Pt. I (with ss. 1(4), 561, 562, Sch. 39 paras. 5, 6, 8, 30, 39)

F26 S. 13(9): words in the definition of “relevant authority” substituted (1.10.1994 for specified purposes otherwise 1.4.1995) by 1994 c. 29, ss. 43, 94(1), Sch. 4 para. 36(a); S.I. 1994/2025, art. 6; S.I. 1994/3262, art. 4, Sch. (subject to art. 5)

F27 Words in s. 13(9) substituted (6.9.2015 for specified purposes, 5.5.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Planning (Wales) Act 2015 (anaw 4), ss. 39(5)(a), 58(2)(b)(4)(b); S.I. 2017/546, art. 3(a)

F28 Word in s. 13(9) substituted (28.1.2016 for specified purposes, 28.3.2016 in so far as not already in force) by Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 (c. 1), s. 25(2), Sch. 5 para. 12(3)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 13 extended (19.9.1995) by 1995 c. 25, ss. 63(5), 125(2), Sch. 7 para. 13(2) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117, Sch. 8 para. 7)

S. 13 excluded (8.5.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 154(4), Sch. 10 para. 9(2) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/801, art. 2(2)(b), Sch. Pt. 2

C2 S. 13 applied (E.) (22.7.2004) by The Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Establishment of Conservation Board) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1778), arts. 1, 17(2)

C3 S. 13 applied (E.) (22.7.2004) by The Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Establishment of Conservation Board) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1777), arts. 1, 17(2)

C4 S. 13 applied (12.11.2009 for specified purposes, 1.10.2010 in so far as not already in force) by Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (c. 23), ss. 151(7)(b), 324(1)(c)(d) (with ss. 172(3), 185); S.I. 2010/2195, art. 3(2)(b)

C5 S. 13 modified (E.) (1.4.2011) by The Greater Manchester Combined Authority Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/908), arts. 1, 13

C6 S. 13 applied (with modifications) (E.W.) (1.4.2013) by The Local Authority (Public Health, Health and Wellbeing Boards and Health Scrutiny) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/218), regs. 1(2), 6

C7 S. 13 modified (E.) (1.4.2014) by The Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield Combined Authority Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/863), arts. 1, 13

C8 S. 13 modified (E.) (1.4.2014) by The Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral Combined Authority Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/865), arts. 1, 16 (with art. 8(4))

C9 S. 13 modified (E.) (15.4.2014) by The Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle Upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland Combined Authority Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/1012), arts. 1, 15

C10 S. 13 modified (E.) (1.4.2016) by The Tees Valley Combined Authority Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/449), arts. 1(a), 10

C11 S. 13 modified (E.) (17.6.2016) by The West Midlands Combined Authority Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/653), arts. 1(2), 13

C12 S. 13 modified (E.) (9.2.2017) by The West of England Combined Authority Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/126), arts. 1(3), 28

C13 S. 13 modified (E.) (3.3.2017) by The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/251), arts. 1(2)(b), 15

C14 S. 13 applied (with modifications) (E.) (8.5.2017) by The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (Transfer of Police and Crime Commissioner Functions to the Mayor) Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/470), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 9(6)

C15 S. 13 modified (E.) (2.11.2018) by The Newcastle Upon Tyne, North Tyneside and Northumberland Combined Authority (Establishment and Functions) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/1133), art. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(9) (with art. 28)

C16 S. 13 modified (E.) (2.11.2018) by The Newcastle Upon Tyne, North Tyneside and Northumberland Combined Authority (Establishment and Functions) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/1133), arts. 1, 21(1) (with art. 28)

C17 S. 13 modified (E.) (20.12.2023) by The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/1432), arts. 1(2), 26(4)

C18 S. 13 applied (with modifications) (E.) (28.2.2024) by The East Midlands Combined County Authority Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/232), regs. 1(2), 35

C19 S. 13(1) excluded (E.) (28.11.2008) by The Local Government (Structural Changes) (Transitional Arrangements) (No.2) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/2867), regs. 1(1), 16(9) (with reg. 1(2))

C20 S. 13(5ZA) applied (with modifications) (E.) (20.12.2023) by The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/1432), arts. 1(2), 33(2), Sch. 5 para. 9(6)

Marginal Citations

M1 1972 c. 70.

M2 1972 c. 11.

M3 1972 c. 70.

14 Voting rights of members of certain committees: Scotland. E+W+S

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, a person who—

(a) is a member of a committee appointed under subsection (1) of section 57of the M4 Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 by a relevant authority and is not a member of that authority;

(b) is a member of a joint committee appointed under that subsection by two or more relevant authorities and is not a member of any of those authorities; or

(c) is a member of a sub-committee appointed under that subsection by such a committee as is mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) above and is not a member of the relevant authority, or one of the relevant authorities, which appointed that committee,

shall for all purposes be treated as a non-voting member of that committee, joint committee or, as the case may be, sub-committee.

F29 (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F29 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) Nothing in [F30 subsection (1)] above shall require a person to be treated as a non-voting member of a committee or sub-committee falling within subsection (5) below; but, except—

(a) in the case of a sub-committee appointed by a committee falling within paragraph (b) of that subsection; and

(b) in such cases as may be prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State,

a person who is a member of a sub-committee falling within that subsection shall for all purposes be treated as a non-voting member of that sub-committee unless he is a member of the committee which appointed the sub-committee.

(5) A committee or sub-committee falls within this subsection if it is—

(a) a committee established in accordance with any regulations made by virtue of section 7 of the M5 Superannuation Act 1972 (regulations making provision for the superannuation of persons employed in local government service etc.);

(b) a committee appointed under section 57(4) of the M6 Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (appointment of advisory committees by local authorities);

(c) a committee constituted in accordance with Schedule A1 to the M7 Education (Scotland) Act 1980 (appeal committees for hearing placing and other appeals);

F31 (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(e) a committee established exclusively for the purpose of discharging such functions of a relevant authority as may be prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State;

(f) a sub-committee appointed by a committee falling within any of paragraphs (a) to [F32 (c) or] (e) above or such a sub-committee as is so prescribed.

[F33 (6) Nothing in this section shall prevent the appointment as a voting member of—

(a) a committee such as is mentioned in subsection (1) of section 124 of the M8 Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (committees appointed by education authority); or

(b) a joint committee of two or more authorities whose purposes include either of those mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b) of that subsection; or

(c) any sub-committee of such a committee or joint committee,

of a person such as is mentioned in subsection (4) of the said section 124.]

(7) Where a person is treated by virtue of this section as a non-voting member of any committee, joint committee or sub-committee, he shall not be entitled to vote at any meeting of the committee, joint committee or sub-committee on any question which falls to be decided at that meeting; and the reference in subsection (6) above to a voting member, in relation to any such committee, joint committee or sub-committee as is mentioned in that subsection, is a reference to a person who is entitled to vote at any meeting of that committee, joint committee or sub-committee on any question which falls to be decided at that meeting.

(8) In the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973—

(a) in section 57(3), the words from “but at least” onwards (which require at least two-thirds of certain committees to be members of the appointing authority or authorities);

[F34 (aa) section 124(5);]

(b) in section 161(6), the words from “but at least” onwards (which make corresponding provision in relation to a social work committee);

(c) in Schedule 10, paragraph 11 (which requires at least half of a joint education committee to be members of the appointing authorities);

(d) in Schedule 20, paragraph 10 (which requires at least two-thirds of a joint social work committee to be members of the appointing authorities),

shall be omitted.

(9) In this section “relevant authority” means a [F35 council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994]; and references in this section to voting include references to making use of a casting vote.

Textual Amendments

F29 S. 14(2)(3) repealed (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1)(2), Sch. 13 para. 161(1)(7)(a), Sch. 14 (with s. 128(8)); S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(c)(d), Sch. 2

F30 Words in s. 14(4) substituted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13 para. 161(1)(7)(b) (with s. 128(8)); S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(c)

F31 S. 14(5)(d) repealed (24.6.2013) by The Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011 (Modification of Primary Legislation) Order 2013 (S.S.I. 2013/211), art. 1, sch. 2

F32 Words in s. 14(5)(f) inserted (24.6.2013) by The Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011 (Modification of Primary Legislation) Order 2013 (S.S.I. 2013/211), art. 1, sch. 1 para. 7

F33 S. 14(6) substituted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13 para. 161(1)(7)(d) (with s. 128(8)); S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(c)

F34 S. 14(8)(aa) inserted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13 para. 161(1)(7)(e) (with s. 128(8)); S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(c)

F35 Words in s. 14(9) substituted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13 para. 161(1)(7)(f) (with s. 128(8)); S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(c)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C21 Pt. I modified (20.12.2023) by The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/1432), arts. 1(2), 5(4)

Marginal Citations

M4 1973 c. 65.

M5 1972 c. 11.

M6 1973 c. 65.

M7 1980 c.44.

M8 1973 c. 65.