Local Authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970 meaning

In practice, this refers to agreements under which a local authority supplies another public body with goods, materials, administrative, professional or technical services, the use of vehicles, plant or apparatus, or maintenance works, on terms (including payment) agreed between them. The power is set out in the Local authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970 (notably section 1). “Public body” is defined in the Act and subsequent legislation, and typically includes other local authorities, NHS bodies, police and fire bodies and certain transport authorities. Key features and uses include shared services arrangements, service level agreements, back-office support, highways and property maintenance, ICT and professional services, and secondments/placing staff at another authority’s disposal (often alongside other statutory powers). The Act provides vires only; it does not disapply public procurement law. It cannot be used to trade with private persons; separate trading/general powers are required for that. Jurisdiction: the Act applies in England and Wales and Scotland. It does not extend to Northern Ireland or Ireland, where comparable inter-authority supply is enabled under their own local government legislation and guidance. Practical significance lies in enabling cost recovery and efficient collaboration between public bodies.