Chapter 29:15 URBAN COUNCILS ACT Minister and shall also submit a statement of any decision the council has taken in terms of paragraph (b) of subsection (4) as to any action to be taken as a result of the auditor’s report. PART XXI GENERAL 308 Copy of Act, regulations and by-laws to be available for inspection A council shall ensure that a copy of this Act, together with any regulations and by-laws made or deemed to have been made in terms of this Act which are applicable to the council area or any local government area administered and controlled by the council, are available for inspection by any person at the office of the council during office hours. 309 Minister to be furnished with reports, etc The Minister may from time to time require a council to submit to him certified copies of records of its proceedings, statistics and other documents, and such other information as he may consider necessary for the effective discharge of his duties and responsibilities in terms of this Act or for any other purpose, and the council shall comply with any such requirement. 310 Furnishing of particulars of owners, lessees and occupiers (1) A council may call for such particulars as it may require from— (a) an owner of property in respect of any former or present lessee or occupier of that property; or (b) an occupier of property in respect of the owner of that property or the person receiving or authorized to receive the rents payable in respect of such occupation; and the owner or occupier shall supply such information as is available to him. (2) Any person who refuses or fails to supply any information required in terms of subsection (1) or wilfully supplies false information shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level five or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment. [Subsection amended by s. 4 of Act 22/2001.] 311 Inquiries by the Minister and appointment of investigators (1) In this section— “authority” means a council or other local authority into whose affairs or concerns the Minister has appointed an investigator to inquire in terms of this section. (2) The Minister may, if he considers it necessary or desirable in the public interest, appoint one or more persons as investigators, together with such assistants and advisers as he may consider necessary, to inquire into any matter which— (a) relates to the good government of a council area or local government area or arises out of the government of a council area or local government area; or (b) relates to the failure of a council to undertake any function or provide any facilities for which it has the necessary power in terms of this Act, which power it has failed to exercise; or (c) relates to arises out of the affairs of— (i) a council; or (ii) a local authority concerning any matter referred to in Part XVI; and to report to him thereon. (3) An authority and every member or employee of an authority shall, when requested to do so, submit to an investigator all information in its or his possession and shall produce to him and give him access to all books, documents, records, accounts and other sources of information of the authority. (4) For the purpose of an inquiry in terms of subsection (2), it shall be lawful for the investigator, if the Minister so directs— (a) to hear and receive evidence upon oath, which oath he is hereby empowered to administer; and 126