Courts Act 1971

Administrative functions of quarter sessions and clerks of the peace

1 (1) Any function of courts of quarter sessions, or of committees of quarter sessions, which relates—

(a) to the deposit of plans or documents, other than those relating to judicial business, or

(b) to the keeping of records other than those relating to judicial business, or

(c) to any other matter which is not of a judicial nature,

shall be transferred to the local authorities for the areas to which those matters relate.

(2) Any function of clerks of the peace, or deputy clerks of the peace, relating to any of the matters mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) above shall be transferred to the clerks of the local authorities for the areas to which those matters relate

(3) The preceding provisions of this paragraph are without prejudice to—

(a) sections 3 and 31 of the [1888 c. 41.] Local Government Act 1888 (which transferred certain quarter sessions functions to councils of counties or county boroughs), and

(b) section 101 of the [1933 c. 51.] Local Government Act 1933 (which transferred certain functions of clerks of the peace to clerks of county councils).

(4) References in this paragraph to local authorities—

(a) do not include the Greater London Council,

(b) include county councils, but not any authority for a part of a county:

Provided that as respects matters in the Isles of Scilly the Council of the Isles of Scilly shall be the local authority.

(5) So far as any matter referred to in this paragraph relates to the Inner Temple or the Middle Temple, references in this paragraph to local authorities, or to clerks of local authorities, are references to the Sub-Treasurer of the Inner Temple or, as the case may be, the Under-Treasurer of the Middle Temple.