Citation, commencement, application and interpretation

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the London Port Health Authority Order 2024 and comes into force on the day after the day on which it is made.

(2) This Order applies to England.

(3) In this Order—

“ the Act” means the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984;

“ houseboat” has the meaning given by section 6(2) of the City of London (Various Powers) Act 1933( 3), as if “London” were inserted before “port health district”;

“ the relevant riparian authorities” means Maldon District Council, Rochford District Council, Swale Borough Council and Medway Council.

Extent of the London port health district

2.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the parts of the relevant riparian authorities described for the purposes of section 7(1)(b) of the Act( 4) (port health district and authority for Port of London) are—

(a) so much of the river Crouch as falls within the area of Rochford District Council;

(b) the Swale, at the mean high-water mark, from where it gives into the river Medway to a line drawn from latitude 51°22’40” north - longitude 0°45’51” east to latitude 51°22’42” east - longitude 0°46’19” east;

(c) the river Medway, at the mean high-water mark, except not upstream beyond a line drawn from Stangate Creek (latitude 0°41’52” east - longitude 51°25’11” north), then north-west to Coalmouth Creek (latitude 0°40’32” east - longitude 51°26’0” north);

(d) a wharf, dock, jetty or similar structure, abutting or projecting into the Port of London or the areas referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) to (c), including any structure or building on an area within the gates of any such wharf, dock, jetty or similar structure;

(e) a security restricted area designated under section 11A of the Aviation Security Act 1982( 5) within the Port of London or the areas referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) to (c); and

(f) as far as the tide flows, all rivers, canals, bays, creeks, streams, channels, waters, and watercourses, giving onto the Port of London and the areas specified in sub-paragraphs (a) to (c).

(2) The area described in paragraph (1) for the purposes of section 7(1)(b) of the Act does not include—

(a) the river Crouch from the limits of Rochford District Council to the northern bank;

(b) the Swale beyond the line described in sub-paragraph (b); and

(c) the river Medway upstream beyond the line described in sub-paragraph (c).

Jurisdiction

3.  The London port health authority has jurisdiction over all the waters and land within the London port health district.

Functions assigned to the London port health authority

4.—(1) The functions, rights and liabilities of a local authority and food authority under the enactments specified in the Schedule are assigned to the London port health authority in so far as they are applicable to a port health authority, and to any land, waters, premises, vessels or persons within its jurisdiction.

(2) For the purposes of the functions, rights and liabilities assigned to the London port health authority by this Order—

(a) the enactments specified in the Schedule have effect as if—

(i) any vessel lying within the jurisdiction of the London port health authority is a house, building or premises; and

(ii) the master or other officer or person in charge of the vessel is the occupier; and

(b) section 268(4) of the Public Health Act 1936( 6) has effect as if a houseboat is a tent, van, shed or similar structure.

(3) This article does not apply to—

(a) any vessel belonging to His Majesty;

(b) any vessel engaged in the service of His Majesty, whether belonging to His Majesty or not; or

(c) any vessel belonging to the armed forces of any country to which the provisions of the Visiting Forces Act 1952( 7) apply by virtue of section 1( 8) of that Act (countries to which Act applies).

Revocation and transitional provision

5.—(1) The London Port Health Authority Order 1965( 9), the London Port Health Authority (Amendment) Order 1980( 10), the London Port Health Authority (Functions) Order 1990( 11) and the London Port Health Authority (Functions) Order 1991( 12) are revoked.

(2) Any function, right or liability assigned to or conferred on the Common Council of the City of London as port health authority (however then constituted) by any enactment before the coming into force of this Order (other than an enactment referred to in paragraph (1)) continues to be exercisable by the London port health authority in respect of the London port health district as constituted by this Order.

Article 4

Schedule Functions etc assigned to the Port Health Authority

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes provision for the constitution of the London port health district, and its jurisdiction and functions.

Article 2 provides that certain parts of the riparian authorities, together with the Port of London (defined in section 6 of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984), make up the London port health district.

Articles 3 and 4, together with the Schedule, make provision as to the jurisdiction and the functions that the port health authority is to exercise as regards the London port health district.

Article 5 revokes the previous Orders relating to the London Port Health Authority. It also provides for powers conferred on the Common Council of the City of London as port health authority by other enactments to continue to be exercised by the authority as constituted by this Order.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sector is foreseen.