Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12, paragraph 41

SCHEDULE 12 Meetings and Proceedings of Local Authorities

41 (1) Minutes of the proceedings of a meeting of a local authority shall, subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, be drawn up and entered in a book kept for that purpose and shall be signed at the same or next [F1421suitableF1421] meeting of the authority by the person presiding thereat, and any minute purporting to be so signed shall be received in evidence without further proof.

(2) Notwithstanding anything in any enactment or rule of law to the contrary, the minutes of the proceedings of meetings of a local authority may be recorded on loose leaves consecutively numbered, the minutes of the proceedings of any meeting being signed, and each leaf comprising those minutes being initialled, at the same or next [F1421suitableF1421] meeting of the authority, by the person presiding thereat, and any minute purporting to be so signed shall be received in evidence without further proof.

(3) Until the contrary is proved, a meeting of a local authority a minute of whose proceedings has been made and signed in accordance with this paragraph shall be deemed to have been duly convened and held, and all the members present at the meeting shall be deemed to have been duly qualified.

[F1422 (4) For the purposes of sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) above the next suitable meeting of a local authority is their next following meeting or, where standing orders made by the authority in accordance with regulations under section 20 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 provide for another meeting of the authority to be regarded as suitable, either the next following meeting or that other meeting.F1422]

Definitions used in Schedule 12, paragraph 41 2

local authority

46 In this Part of this Schedule “local authority” includes a joint authority .... . . . . . and in relation to any such authority the reference in paragraph 43 above to election shall include a reference to appointment.

Defined in Sch.12 para.46 · see it in the full Act

“local authority” means a county council, . . . a district council, a London borough council or a parish council but, in relation to Wales, means a county council, county borough council or community council;

Defined in s.270(1) · see it in the full Act
the authority

(2) Any reference in Parts 4 and 5 and this Part of this Schedule to “the authority” is a reference to the principal council or, as the case may be, the committee or sub-committee in relation to whose proceedings or documents the question whether information is exempt or not falls to be determined and includes a reference —

(a) in the case of a principal council, to any committee or sub-committee of the council; and

(b) in the case of a committee, to —

(i) any constituent principal council;

(ii) any other principal council by which appointments are made to the committee or whose functions the committee discharges; and

(iii) any other committee or sub-committee of a principal council falling within sub-paragraph (i) or (ii) above; and

(c) in the case of a sub-committee, to —

(i) the committee, or any of the committees, of which it is a sub-committee; and

(ii) any principal council which falls within paragraph (b) above in relation to that committee.

Defined in Sch.12A para.22(2) · see it in the full Act

(2) Any reference in Parts 1 and 2 and this Part of this Schedule to “the authority” is a reference to the principal council or, as the case may be, the committee or sub-committee in relation to whose proceedings or documents the question whether information is exempt or not falls to be determined and includes a reference—

(a) in the case of a principal council, to any committee or sub-committee of the council; and

(b) in the case of a committee, to—

(i) any constituent principal council;

(ii) any other principal council by which appointments are made to the committee or whose functions the committee discharges; and

(iii) any other committee or sub-committee of a principal council falling within sub-paragraph (i) or (ii) above; and

(c) in the case of a sub-committee, to—

(i) the committee, or any of the committees, of which it is a sub-committee; and

(ii) any principal council which falls within paragraph (b) above in relation to that committee.

Defined in Sch.12A para.11(2) · see it in the full Act

(2E) In subsection (2D) above, “the authority” has the meaning given in paragraph 22(2) of Schedule 12A to this Act.

Defined in s.100F(2E) · see it in the full Act

(2B) In subsection (2A) above, “the authority” has the meaning given in paragraph 11(2) of Schedule 12A to this Act.

Defined in s.100F(2B) · see it in the full Act

(2B) In subsection (2A) above, “the authority” has the meaning given in paragraph 11(2) of Schedule 12A to this Act.

Defined in s.100F(2B) · see it in the full Act

Cases considering Schedule 12, paragraph 41 3

Steer, R (On the Application Of) v Shepway District Council

[2018] EWHC 238 (Admin) · 16 February 2018

Applies the requirement for the planning committee to record minutes of its proceedings and present them for approval and signature at the next meeting. The minutes were effectively the sole recorded reasons for the decision (see paras [59]-[60]).

The Midcounties Co-Operative Ltd, R (On the Application Of) v Forest of Dean District Council

[2017] EWHC 2056 (Admin) · 4 August 2017

Considers the provision as the statutory basis for recording minutes of committee proceedings. The court distinguishes that duty from a duty to provide legally adequate reasons for granting planning permission. (see paras [65], [71])

Hawksworth Securities Plc, R (on the application of) v Ireef Queensgate Peterborough Propco S.A.R.L & Ors

[2016] EWHC 1870 (Admin) · 26 July 2016

The provision was applied as requiring the Committee to record minutes of its proceedings. The court treated the minutes as a statutory record of the meeting rather than formal reasons for granting permission. (see para [74])

What each judgment says about Schedule 12, paragraph 41 is in the case-law panel in the full Act.

Amendments and notes

9 notes from legislation.gov.uk

Amendments

  1. F1421Words in Sch. 12 para. 41(1)(2) substituted (8.5.1992) by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 81:1), s. 194(1), Sch. 11 para. 30; S.I. 1992/760, art.2.
  2. F1422Sch. 12 para. 41(4) inserted (8.5.1992) by Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42, SIF 81:1), s. 194(1), Sch. 11 para. 30; S.I. 1992/760, art.2.

Modifications

  1. C1318Sch. 12 paras. 39-43 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)(a), 324(1)(c)(d) (with ss. 172(3), 185); S.I. 2010/2195, art. 3(2)(b)
  2. C1323Sch. 12 paras. 40-44 applied (with modifications) (22.11.2012) by The Police and Crime Panels (Application of Local Authority Enactments) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/2734), regs. 1(1), 3-6, Sch. Pt. 2
  3. C1324Sch. 12 paras. 40-44 applied (with modifications) (22.11.2012) by The Police and Crime Panels (Application of Local Authority Enactments) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/2734), regs. 1(1), 3-6, Sch. Pt. 3
  4. C1325Sch. 12 paras. 39-43 applied (with modifications)(8.1.1996) by 1995 c. x, ss. 1(3), 44, Sch. Pt. II
  5. C1326Sch. 12 paras. 39-44 applied (1.4.2009) by The Charter Trustees Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/467), regs. 8(5), 9(7)
  6. C1327Sch. 12 paras. 39-43 applied (12.11.2009 for certain purposes and otherwise prosp.) by Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (c. 23), ss. 151(7)(a), 324(1)(c)(3) (with ss. 172(3), 185)
  7. C1328Sch. 12 para. 41 modified (W.) (22.4.2020) by The Local Authorities (Coronavirus) (Meetings) (Wales) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/442), regs. 1(3), 22(1)