s 173 Power of Minister in the event of default of local authority other than rural district council
(1) In any case where— (a) a complaint is made to the Minister— (i) as respects the council of any non-county borough or urban district, by the council of the county in which the borough or district is situate, or by any justice of the peace acting for, or by any four or more local government electors of, the borough or district; or (ii) as respects any local authority, not being the council of a non-county borough or of an urban or rural district, by any justice of the peace acting for, or by any four or more local government electors of, the area of the authority, that the local authority have failed to exercise their powers under this Act in any case where these powers ought to have been exercised ; or (b) the Minister is of opinion that an investigation should be made as to whether any local authority, not being the council of a rural district, have failed as aforesaid ; the Minister may cause a public local inquiry to be held and, if after the inquiry has been held he is satisfied that there has been such a failure on the part of the local authority, he may make an order declaring the authority to be in default and directing them to exercise for the purpose of remedying the default such of their powers, and in such manner and within such time or times, as may be specified in the order. (2) If a local authority with respect to whom an order has been made under the foregoing subsection fail to comply with any requirement thereof within the time limited thereby for compliance with that requirement, the Minister, in lieu of enforcing the order, may, if he thinks fit, adopt one of the following courses— (a) if the local authority concerned is the council of a non-county borough, or of an urban district, he may make an order directing the council of the county within which that borough or district is situate to perform such of the obligations of the borough or district council under the original order within such times as may be specified in his order addressed to the county council; or (b) in any case, he may make an order rendering exercise able by himself such of the powers of the local authority under this Act as may be specified in his order. (3) The Minister's powers of making orders under this section shall be exercisable by statutory instrument.