1. Power of local authority to acquire, &c. existing ferries. E+W+N.I.
(1) A local authority may, with the consent of the Minister of Transport, purchase or accept the transfer of, and the owner of any existing ferry may sell or transfer to a local authority, upon such terms as may be agreed on between the owner and the local authority, any existing ferry which is within the area of that local authority or which serves the inhabitants of that area.
(2) Subject to the provisions of any Act of Parliament under which the ferry was established, and to the rights of any other persons, the local authority may work, maintain and improve the ferry and charge such tolls as were legally chargeable in respect of the ferry before the sale or transfer thereof to the local authority, or such other tolls as the local authority, . . . F1 may determine, or . . . F1 the local authority may, if they think fit, free the ferry from tolls, and shall have the rights and powers which the owner of the ferry possessed and shall be subject to the obligations and liabilities to which he was subject.
(3) A local authority may join with any other local authority for the purchase, or acceptance, working, maintenance, or improvement of a ferry under this Act, or may contribute towards the expenses of the purchase or acceptance, working, maintenance, or improvement of a ferry by another local authority, and any difference which may arise between any local authorities who are acting jointly or jointly bearing any expenses under this subsection shall be determined by the Minister of Transport, or by an arbitrator appointed by him, and such determination shall be final and binding.
(4) In this Act the expression “ existing ferry ” means any ferry legally established by Act of Parliament or otherwise at the date of the purchase or transfer, and includes all boats and other vessels, landing stages, approaches, apparatus, plant and other property used in connection with the ferry. [ F2 (4A) For the purpose of exercising his functions under this Act, the Secretary of State may hold local inquiries. ] [ F3 (5) The Minister of Transport shall have the like powers with respect to the holding of local inquiries for the purposes of this Act as are conferred by section eighty-seven of the M1 Local Government Act 1888 upon the Minister of Health for the purposes of that Act. ]
(6) In this Act the expression “ local authority ” means and includes a county council, the mayor, aldermen and burgesses of a county . . . F1 borough, and the council of any . . . F4 . . . F1 district.
(7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F5
(8) A local authority, . . . F6 , may borrow for the purposes of this Act . . . F6 Textual Amendments F1 Words repealed by Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70) , Sch. 30 F2 S. 1(4A) inserted (E.W.)(5.11.1993) by 1993 c. 50 , s. 1(2) , Sch. 2 Pt. II para.20 F3 S. 1(5) repealed (E.W.)(5.11.1993) by 1993 c. 50 , s. 1(1) , Sch. 1 Pt.X F4 Words omitted by virtue of Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70) , s. 179(3) , Sch. 30 F5 S. 1(7) repealed by Local Government Act 1933 (c. 51) , Sch. 11 Pt. IV F6 Words repealed (E.W.) by Local Government Act 1933 (c. 51) , Sch. 11 Pt. IV Marginal Citations M1 1888 c. 41 .
