s 4 Limits on doing things for commercial purpose in exercise of general power
(1) The general power confers power on a local authority to do things for a commercial purpose only if they are things which the authority may, in exercise of the general power, do otherwise than for a commercial purpose. (2) Where, in exercise of the general power, a local authority does things for a commercial purpose, the authority must do them through a company. (3) A local authority may not, in exercise of the general power, do things for a commercial purpose in relation to a person if a statutory provision requires the authority to do those things in relation to the person. (4) In this section “ company ” means— (a) a company within the meaning given by section 1(1) of the Companies Act 2006, or (b) a registered society within the meaning of the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 or a society registered or deemed to be registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act (Northern Ireland) 1969.