The Standards Committees (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2006

Title, commencement, application and interpretation

1.—(1) The title of these Regulations is the Standards Committees (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 and these Regulations come into force on 14 July 2006.

(2) These Regulations apply in relation to Wales.

(3) In these Regulations—

“the 2001 Regulations” (“Rheoliadau 2001”) means the Standards Committees (Wales) Regulations 2001(1).

Amendments to the 2001 Regulations

2.  The 2001 Regulations are amended as follows.

3.  In regulation 2—

(a) in the appropriate place in alphabetical order insert—

““community sub-committee” (“is-bwyllgor cymunedol”) means a sub-committee appointed by a standards committee of a local authority under section 56 of the 2000 Act;”;

(b) in the appropriate place in alphabetical order insert—

““section 54A sub-committee” (“is-bwyllgor adran 54A”) means a sub-committee appointed by a standards committee of a relevant authority under section 54A(1) of the 2000 Act;”;

(c) in the definition of “standards committee”, for “includes a sub-committee of a standards committee;” substitute “includes a section 54A sub-committee and a community sub-committee.”; and

(d) omit the definition of “sub-committee of a standards committee”.

4.  For regulation 3, substitute—

“3.— (1) Subject to paragraph (2) a standards committee shall consist of not less than five nor more than nine members.

(2) A section 54A sub-committee shall consist of not less than three members.”.

5.  For regulation 10, there is substituted—

“10.— (1) The membership of a standards committee of a local authority which is to discharge functions in relation to—

(a) community councils which are situated in that local authority’s area; and

(b) the members of those community councils,

shall include at least one community committee member.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3) the appointment of a community committee member to a standards committee of a local authority which is to discharge the functions described in sub-paragraphs (1)(a) and (b) shall be made by that local authority.

(3) Before making an appointment under paragraph (2) the local authority shall consult—

(a) community councils which are situated within its area; and

(b) community council associations established for and operating within that area (if any).”.

6.  After regulation 18, insert—

“18A.— (1) The term of office of a member of a local authority standards committee who is a community committee member shall be no more than—

(a) four years; or

(b) the period until the ordinary elections for the community council of which the community committee member is a member next following the appointment of that person as a community committee member of that committee,

whichever is the shorter.

(2) A community committee member shall cease to be a member of a local authority standards committee if that member ceases to be a member of a community council within the area of the local authority concerned.”.

7.  For paragraph (2) of regulation 21, substitute—

“(2) Subject to paragraph (4) an independent member of the standards committee of a relevant authority may be reappointed by that relevant authority for one further consecutive term.

(3) In reappointing an independent member under paragraph (2), the relevant authority is not obliged to comply with the requirements imposed by regulations 13 to 17.

(4) Where an independent member is reappointed under paragraph (2), that further consecutive term shall not exceed four years.”.

8.  After regulation 21, insert—

“21A.— (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of regulation 18A, a community committee member of the standards committee of a local authority may be reappointed by that local authority for one further consecutive term.

(2) Before making a reappointment of a community committee member under paragraph (1) the local authority shall consult—

(a) community councils which are situated within its area; and

(b) community council associations established for and operating within that area (if any).”.

9.  After paragraph (9) of regulation 22, insert—

“(10) Nothing in these Regulations prevents the members of a standards committee electing a chairperson or a vice-chairperson who is an independent member of that committee and who—

(a) has been reappointed as such a member under regulation 21(2); and

(b) was elected as chairperson or vice-chairperson of that committee during that member’s first term of office.”.

10.  For regulation 24, substitute—

“24.— (1) No business shall be transacted at a meeting of a standards committee, other than a section 54A sub-committee, unless—

(a) at least three members are present, including the chairperson; and

(b) at least half the members present (including the chairperson) are independent members.

(2) No business shall be transacted at a meeting of a section 54A sub-committee unless—

(a) at least two members are present, including the chairperson; and

(b) at least half the members present (including the chairperson) are independent members.

(3) For the purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2) the term “chairperson” includes—

(a) a vice-chairperson presiding in pursuance of paragraph (4) of regulation 22; and

(b) an independent member presiding in pursuance of paragraph (5) of regulation 22.”.

Signed on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales under section 66(1) of the Government of Wales Act 1998(2)

D. Elis-Thomas

The Presiding Officer of the National Assembly

11 July 2006