Local Government Act 2003

Local Government Act 2003
Act of Parliament
	Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to make provision about finance, and other provision, in connection with local and certain other authorities; to provide for changing the dates of local elections in 2004; to amend the Audit Commission Act 1998; and for connected purposes.
Citation	2003 c. 26
Territorial extent	England and Wales; Scotland (in part); Northern Ireland (in part); Gibraltar (in part);
Dates
Royal assent	18 September 2003
Commencement	various
Amends	Public Works Loans Act 1965; Public Works Loans Act 1967; Local Government Act 1986; Social Security Administration Act 1992; Police Act 1996; Education Act 1996; Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000;
Other legislation
Amends	Public Works Loans Act 1965; Public Works Loans Act 1967; Local Government Act 1986; Social Security Administration Act 1992; Police Act 1996; Education Act 1996; Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000;
Amended by	Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004; Government of Wales Act 2006; Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016; Policing and Crime Act 2017; Non-Domestic Rating Act 2023;
Relates to	Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
Revised text of statute as amended
Text of the Local Government Act 2003 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

The Local Government Act 2003 (c. 26) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

Provisions

It made various changes to the administration of local government in the United Kingdom. Although it contained mainly financial provisions, section 122 repealed section 2A of the Local Government Act 1986, the enactment prohibiting local authorities from 'promoting' homosexuality, in England and Wales.

It also created the concept of "business improvement districts".

The act made community sports clubs eligible for 80% rate relief.

Legislative passage

During the passage of the act, the Conservative Party suggested that the government should implement a system of allowing parental ballots on sex education material.

Notes

↑ Section 129(1).
↑ Section 129(2)–(8).
↑ Section 128.

References

"Local Government Act 2003". Halsbury's Statutes of England and Wales. Fourth Edition. LexisNexis. 2009 Reissue of volume 24 at page 183. 2009 Reissue of volume 26(2) at page 281.
William Okoya and John McCafferty. "Local Government Act 2003". Current Law Statutes 2003. Sweet & Maxwell. London. W Green. Edinburgh. Volume 2. Chapter 26. p 26-1 et seq.

↑ "Duncan Smith defends stance on section 28". The Guardian. 17 January 2003. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
↑ "Yesterday in parliament". The Guardian. 16 September 2003. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
↑ "Yesterday in parliament". The Guardian. 11 July 2003. Retrieved 29 January 2026.

External links

Text of the Local Government Act 2003 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.
Text of the Local Government Act 2003 as originally enacted or made within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.
Explanatory notes to the Local Government Act 2003.

This legislation in the United Kingdom, or its constituent jurisdictions, article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information.

[1] Section 129(1).

[2] Section 129(2)–(8).

[3] Section 128.

[4] "Duncan Smith defends stance on section 28". The Guardian. 17 January 2003. Retrieved 29 January 2026.

[5] "Yesterday in parliament". The Guardian. 16 September 2003. Retrieved 29 January 2026.

[6] "Yesterday in parliament". The Guardian. 11 July 2003. Retrieved 29 January 2026.