21.—(1) The Minister may, following consultation with the Agency, where he or she is satisfied that any function conferred on a local authority by this Act could be more effectively performed by the Agency in lieu of being performed by that authority, by regulations provide that the function shall be performed by the Agency with effect from a date specified in the regulations.

(2) Whenever regulations under subsection (1) are in force in relation to a particular function, a reference in this Act to a local authority shall, where appropriate, be construed as a reference to the Agency and the function to which the regulations relate shall be a function of the Agency.

(3) The Minister may, where he or she is satisfied that any function conferred on a local authority by this Act could, as respects the functional area of the corporation of a borough (other than a county borough), or the council of an urban district, that is situate in the functional area of that local authority, be more effectively performed by the said corporation or council in lieu of being performed by that authority, by regulations provide that the said function shall, with effect from a date specified in the regulations, be performed, as respects the first-mentioned functional area, by the said corporation or, as the case may be, council.

(4) Whenever regulations under subsection (3) are in force in relation to a particular function, a reference in this Act to a local authority shall, where appropriate, be construed as a reference to the corporation of the borough or the council of the urban district to which the regulations relate and the function to which the regulations relate shall be a function of the said corporation or council.

(5) Regulations under this section may contain such incidental, supplementary, consequential and transitional provisions (including provisions modifying and applying any provision of this Act or of any other enactment) as appear to the Minister to be necessary for the purpose or in consequence of, or to give full effect to, the regulations.