Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014

32 Establishment of strategic planning group

(1) Before preparing its first strategic plan, an integration authority in relation to the area of a local authority is to establish a group (its “strategic planning group”) comprising—

(a) where the integration authority is an integration joint board—

(i) at least one person nominated by the Health Board which is a constituent authority in relation to the integration joint board,

(ii) where one local authority is a constituent authority in relation to the integration joint board, at least one person nominated by the local authority,

(iii) where two or more local authorities are constituent authorities in relation to the integration joint board, at least one person nominated by the local authorities,

(b) where the integration authority is a Health Board, at least one person nominated by the local authority or authorities with which the integration authority prepared the integration scheme in pursuance of which the integration authority acquired its functions,

(c) where the integration authority is a local authority, at least one person nominated by the Health Board with which the integration authority prepared the integration scheme in pursuance of which the integration authority acquired its functions,

(d) one person in respect of each of the groups mentioned in subsection (2), being a person who the integration authority considers to be representative of that group, and

(e) such other persons as the integration authority considers appropriate.

(2) The groups referred to in subsection (1)(d) are such groups of persons appearing to the Scottish Ministers to have an interest as may be prescribed.

(3) The integration authority is to determine—

(a) the number of members of its strategic planning group,

(b) so far as not set out in this section, the processes for appointment, removal and replacement of members.

(4) The integration authority may—

(a) appoint members of its strategic planning group from persons nominated under subsection (1),

(b) in such circumstances as the authority considers appropriate, remove persons appointed under paragraph (a) from membership of the group,

(c) appoint members in place of members who resign or are removed from membership of the group.

(5) A constituent authority may—

(a) remove from a strategic planning group a member appointed to represent it,

(b) nominate under subsection (1) another person in place of a member of the group appointed to represent it.

(6) A member of a strategic planning group may resign at any time.

(7) During the period to which any strategic plan of an integration authority relates, its strategic planning group is also to comprise a person to represent the interests of each locality set out in the plan in pursuance of section 29(3)(a).

(8) It is for the integration authority to—

(a) decide which persons are suitable to represent the interests of a locality, and

(b) select the representative.

(9) An integration authority may under subsection (8)(b) select a single person in respect of two or more localities.

(10) The validity of anything done by an integration authority’s strategic planning group is not affected by any vacancy in its membership.

(11) The procedure of an integration authority’s strategic planning group is to be such as the authority determines.

(12) An integration authority may pay to members of its strategic planning group such expenses and allowances as the authority determines.