126C.—(1) The functions of the Commission are as follows:

(a) to scrutinise the performance of any local government body against or in comparison with any indicative matter (in this Part referred to as "relevant indicators") that—

(i) the Commission considers it appropriate to refer to (which shall include indicative matters relating to customer service), or

(ii) the Minister may prescribe by regulations for the purpose of this paragraph;

(b) to scrutinise the financial performance, including in relation to value for money, of any local government body, in respect of the financial resources available to it;

(c) to support the development and enhancement of best practice in the performance by local government bodies of their respective functions;

(d) to monitor and evaluate adherence to any agreement in the nature of a service level agreement entered into by one or more local government bodies, whether or not all parties to such an agreement are local government bodies;

(e) to oversee how national policy in relation to local government is implemented by local government bodies;

(f) to monitor and evaluate the implementation of public service reform (including enhanced efficiencies) by local government bodies either generally or in respect of any local government body or class of such bodies;

(g) to monitor the adequacy of the corporate plan prepared—

(i) by a regional assembly pursuant to section 43 (as amended by the Local Government Reform Act 2014) of the Local Government Act 1991, and

(ii) by a council pursuant to section 134,

and to evaluate implementation of such plans either generally or in respect of any local government body or class of such bodies;

(h) to take such steps as are appropriate under its other functions for the purposes of any request under section 126D and to furnish reports or other information in relation to that request to the Minister or the appropriate Minister, as the case may be;

(i) in addition to reports or other information furnished under section 126D and to its annual reports under section 126K, to prepare on its own initiative such other reports or information on matters relating to its functions as the Commission considers appropriate.

(2) The Commission has power to do anything that appears to it to be requisite, advantageous or incidental to, or to facilitate, the performance of its functions, including the making of arrangements by agreement with any person or body to assist the Commission in the proper discharge of any of its functions.

(3)(a) The Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, by order confer on the Commission such additional functions connected with the functions for the time being of the Commission as the Minister determines, subject to such conditions (if any) as may be specified in the order.

(b) An order under paragraph (a) may contain such incidental, supplementary and additional provisions as may, in the opinion of the Minister, be necessary to give full effect to the order.]