Consultation group
17.—(1) The Trustees shall establish a consultation group which the Trustees shall consult on all matters substantially affecting the management, maintenance, improvement, conservation, protection or regulation of the harbour and its navigation.
(2) The Trustees shall make arrangements for such consultation group to meet not less than twice a year.
(3) The Trustees shall take into consideration any matter, recommendation or representation which may from time to time be referred or made to them by the consultation group whether or not the consultation group has been consulted by the Trustees on the matter, recommendation or representation so referred or made.
(4) The consultation group established pursuant to this article shall consist of such number or numbers of persons appointed by the Trustees, in consultation with the consultation group, as the Trustees shall from time to time consider appropriate.
(5) Appointments to the consultation group established under this article shall be made initially by the Trustees and thereafter any properly constituted organisation who can demonstrate that they represent a grouping of stakeholders or other material stakeholder interest not already represented may apply to the consultation group for membership. Membership will not unreasonably be refused to such an organisation.
(6) The consultation group may determine its own quorum and procedure and shall appoint a chair.
(7) An individual member of such consultation group may, on giving notice in writing to the chair of the consultation group, send a substitute to any meeting of the body.
(8) A member of the consultation group shall hold office for the period of three years from the date of his appointment and at the end of that period shall be eligible for re-appointment.
(9) A member of the consultation group may resign his office at any time by notice in writing given to the chair of the Trustees.