16Standing advisory councils on religious education
(1)This section has effect in respect of the area of a local education authority if an order under section 12(1)(b) of this Act applies to the area.
(2)Within six months of the date of the first such order the local education authority shall constitute a new council under section 11 of the [1988 c. 40.] Education Reform Act 1988 (standing advisory councils on religious education).
(3)For the purposes of the constitution required by subsection (2) above (and of any subsequent constitution) that section shall have effect as if—
(a)subsection (3)(b) were omitted,
(b)subsection (4) required the appointment of a representative group, in addition to those listed in paragraphs (a) to (d) of that subsection, comprising persons representing relevant grant-maintained schools, and
(c)in subsection (7)—
(i)for “that” there were substituted “those”, and
(ii)after “to represent the authority” there were inserted “or relevant grant-maintained schools”.
(4)For the purposes of subsection (3) above, “relevant grant-maintained schools” means those grant-maintained schools within the area of the local education authority to which section 138 or 139 of this Act applies.
(5)Before appointing a person to represent relevant grant-maintained schools in accordance with subsection (3) above the local education authority shall take all reasonable steps to assure themselves that he is acceptable as such to the governing bodies of the majority of such schools; but the validity of proceedings shall not be affected because the person was not so acceptable unless it is shown that the local education authority failed to take such steps.
(6)A person appointed to represent relevant grant-maintained schools in accordance with subsection (3) above may be removed from membership of the council if in the opinion of the local education authority he ceases to be acceptable as such to the governing bodies of the majority of such schools.