Localism Bill

133: After Clause 68, insert the following new Clause— ““Duty to consider requests (1) A relevant authority must consider a request in accordance with this Chapter if— (a) it is submitted to an authority by a parish or town council, and (b) it is made in writing and complies with such other requirements for requests as the Secretary of State may specify by regulations. (2) In this Chapter ““request”” means a request to a relevant authority that it should provide a service or perform a function (being a service or function that it already provides or performs, or is entitled to provide or perform) in a specified manner. (3) A relevant authority in receipt of such a request shall accede to it unless doing so would— (a) result in net additional expenditure or net reduced revenue, or (b) adversely affect that authority’s wider interests or policies. (4) In reaching a conclusion under subsection (3)(a), the relevant authority shall take into account all consequent changes in expenditure or income, including any amounts that the parish council is prepared to pay the authority, except that it may not take into account any net reduction in revenue resulting from the enforcement of civil penalties.””