Local Government Act 2000

[F145 Provisions with respect to referendums.E+W

This section has no associated Explanatory Notes

(1)A local [F2authority] may not hold more than one referendum in any period of five years.

(2)If the result of a referendum held by virtue of regulations or an order made under any provision of this Part is to approve the proposals to which the referendum relates, the local authority concerned must implement those proposals in accordance with any provision made by the regulations or order.

(3)If the result of a referendum held by virtue of regulations or an order made under any provision of this Part is to reject the proposals to which the referendum relates, the local authority concerned may not implement those proposals but must instead comply with any provision made by the regulations or order.

(4)The persons entitled to vote in a referendum held by a local authority are those who on the day of the referendum—

(a)would be entitled to vote as electors at an election of councillors for an electoral area which is situated within the authority’s area, and

(b)are registered in the register of local government electors at an address within the authority’s area.

(5)The [F3Welsh Ministers] may by regulations make provision as to the conduct of referendums.

(6)The [F4Welsh Ministers] may by regulations make provision for the combination of polls at referendums with polls at any elections.

(7)Regulations under subsection (5) or (6) may apply or incorporate, with or without modifications or exceptions, any provision of any enactment (whenever passed or made) relating to elections or referendums.

(8)The provision which may be made under subsection (5) includes, in particular, provision—

(a)as to the question to be asked in a referendum,

(b)as to the publicity to be given in connection with a referendum (including the publicity to be given with respect to the consequences of the referendum),

(c)about the limitation of expenditure in connection with a referendum (and the creation of criminal offences in connection with the limitation of such expenditure),

(d)as to the conduct of the authority, members of the authority and officers of the authority in relation to a referendum,

(e)as to when, where and how voting in a referendum is to take place,

(f)as to how the votes cast in a referendum are to be counted, and

(g)for disregarding alterations in a register of electors.

F5[(8A)Before making any regulations under this section, the [F6Welsh Ministers] shall consult the Electoral Commission, but this subsection does not apply to—

(a)provisions which specify the wording of the question to be asked in a referendum, or

(b)provisions for matters mentioned in subsection (8)(c).

(8B)No regulations which specify the wording of the question to be asked in a referendum may be made under subsection (5) unless—

(a)before laying a draft of the regulations before [F7the National Assembly for Wales], the [F8Welsh Ministers] consulted the Electoral Commission as to the intelligibility of that question, and

(b)when so laying the draft, the [F9Welsh Ministers] also laid before [F10the National Assembly for Wales] a report stating any views as to the intelligibility of that question which were expressed by the Electoral Commission in response to that consultation.

(8C)Where any such regulations specify not only the question to be asked in a referendum but also any statement which is to precede that question on the ballot paper at the referendum, any reference in subsection (8B) to the intelligibility of that question is to be read as a reference to the intelligibility of that question and that statement taken together.

(8D)No regulations which make provision for the matters mentioned in subsection (8)(c) may be made under subsection (5) unless—

(a)before laying a draft of the regulations before [F11the National Assembly for Wales], the [F12Welsh Ministers] sought, and had regard to, the views of the Electoral Commission as to the provision to be made by the regulations as to those matters, and

(b)where the draft regulations laid before [F13the National Assembly for Wales ] made provision as to those matters otherwise than in accordance with the views of the Electoral Commission, the [F14Welsh Ministers], when so laying the draft, also laid before [F15the Assembly] a statement of [F16their] reasons for departing from the views of the Commission.]

(9)In subsections (1), (4) to (6) and (8) [F17to (8C)]“referendum” means a referendum held under section 27 F18... or by virtue of regulations or an order made under any provision of this Part [F19or under section 40 of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011].]

Textual Amendments

F2Word in s. 45(1) substituted (15.1.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 66(2); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(c) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11)

F3Words in s. 45(5) substituted (15.1.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 66(3); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(c) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11)

F4Words in s. 45(6) substituted (15.1.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 66(3); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(c) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11)

F5S. 45(8A)-(8D) inserted (1.7.2001) by 2000 c. 41, s. 158(1), Sch. 21 para. 18(3) (with s. 156(6)); S.I. 2001/222, art. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. I (Sch. 2 Pt. II para. 2)

F6Words in s. 45(8A) substituted (15.1.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 66(3); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(c) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11)

F7Words in s. 45(8B)(a) substituted (15.1.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 66(4)(a)(i); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(c) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11)

F8Words in s. 45(8B)(a) substituted (15.1.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 66(4)(a)(ii); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(c) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11)

F9Words in s. 45(8B)(b) substituted (15.1.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 66(4)(b)(i); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(c) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11)

F10Words in s. 45(8B)(b) substituted (15.1.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 66(4)(b)(ii); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(c) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11)

F11Words in s. 45(8D)(a) substituted (15.1.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 66(5)(a)(i); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(c) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11)

F12Words in s. 45(8D)(a) substituted (15.1.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 66(5)(a)(ii); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(c) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11)

F13Words in s. 45(8D)(b) substituted (15.1.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 66(5)(b)(i); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(c) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11)

F14Words in s. 45(8D)(b) substituted (15.1.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 66(5)(b)(ii); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(c) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11)

F15Words in s. 45(8D)(b) substituted (15.1.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 66(5)(b)(iii); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(c) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11)

F16Word in s. 45(8D)(b) substituted (15.1.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 66(5)(b)(iv); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(c) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11)

F17Words in s. 45(9) inserted (1.7.2001) by 2000 c. 41, s. 158(1), Sch. 21 para. 18(4) (with s. 156(6)); S.I. 2001/222, art. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. I (Sch. 2 Pt. II para. 2)

F19Words in s. 45(9) inserted (10.7.2011) by Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 4), ss. 54(4), 178(2)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1S. 45 functions made exercisable concurrently (18.8.2010) by The Lord President of the Council Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1837), arts. 1(2), 3

C2S. 45 applied (with modifications) (10.7.2011) by Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 (nawm 4), s. 178(2), Sch. 1 para. 4(3)

Commencement Information

I1S. 45 wholly in force at 28.7.2001; s. 45 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 108; s. 45 in force at 7.8.2000 in so far as it confers power to make an order or regulations, give directions, or issue guidance in relation to England only by S.I. 2000/2187, arts. 1(3), 2(b); s. 45(5)-(9) in force at 1.11.2000 in relation to Wales by S.I. 2000/2948, art. 2; s. 45 in force at 19.2.2001 in relation to England only except in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2001/415, arts. 1(3), 2(a); s. 45 in force at 28.7.2001 in so far as not already in force see s. 108(4)-(6)