31Councils may appoint authorised officers

31 Councils may appoint authorised officers (1) Subject to this section, a Council may, under section 224(1) of the **Local Government Act 1989**, appoint a person to be an authorised officer for the purposes of this Act. (2) A Council must not appoint a person to be an authorised officer for the purposes of this Act unless the Council is satisfied that the person is suitably qualified or trained to be an authorised officer for the purposes of this Act. (3) An appointment of a person to be an authorised officer may— (a) specify the functions, duties or powers under this Act or the regulations to which it relates; and (b) be made subject to any conditions that the Council considers to be appropriate. (4) A Council may give a direction to an authorised officer appointed by the Council in relation to the performance of the authorised officer's functions or duties or the exercise of the authorised officer's powers under this Act or the regulations. (5) A direction given under subsection (4) may— (a) be of a general nature; or (b) specify that the direction relates to a specific matter or specified class of matter.