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Section 222 of the Local Government Act 1972 allows a Local Authority to delegate a power upon one of its officers to:

“prosecute or defend or appear in any legal proceedings and, in the case of civil proceedings, may institute them in their own name, and they may, in their own name, make representations in the interests of the inhabitants at any public inquiry held by or on behalf of any Minister or public body under any enactment”.

Section 223 of the 1972 Act allows a Local Authority to authorise any member of its staff to prosecute or defend designated matters in magistrates’ court.