Education Act 1996

397 F1 ... Access to meetings and documents. E+W

(1) This section applies to—

(a) any conference convened under any of paragraphs [F2 (A1)] to 3 of Schedule 31, and

(b) any standing advisory council F3 ... constituted under section 390.

(2) Regulations [F4 made by the appropriate authority] may make provision—

(a) for meetings of conferences or councils to be, subject to prescribed exceptions, open to members of the public,

(b) requiring conferences or councils to give notice, in such manner as may be prescribed, of the time and place of such meetings, and

(c) requiring conferences or councils, at such time or times as may be prescribed—

(i) to make available for inspection, or

(ii) to provide on payment of such fee as they think fit (not exceeding the cost of supply),

copies of the agendas and reports for such meetings to members of the public.

(3) Regulations made under subsection (2) may apply to—

(a) committees appointed by [F5 local authorities] under paragraph 4 of Schedule 31,

(b) sub-committees appointed by conferences under that Schedule, and

(c) representative groups on councils appointed under section 390(4),

as they apply to conferences and councils.

[F6 (4) The “appropriate authority” is—

(a) in relation to a conference convened by a local authority in Wales, or a standing advisory council convened by a local authority in Wales, the Welsh Ministers;

(b) in relation to a conference convened by a local authority in England, or a standing advisory council convened by a local authority in England, the Secretary of State.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 397 heading omitted (30.4.2021) by virtue of Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 (asc 4), s. 84(1), Sch. 2 para. 15(2) (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2022/111, regs. 1, 3)

F2 Word in s. 397(1)(a) substituted (30.4.2021) by virtue of Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 (asc 4), s. 84(1), Sch. 2 para. 15(3)(a) (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2022/111, regs. 1, 3)

F3 Words in s. 397(1)(b) omitted (30.4.2021) by virtue of Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 (asc 4), s. 84(1), Sch. 2 para. 15(3)(b) (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2022/111, regs. 1, 3)

F4 Words in s. 397(2) inserted (30.4.2021) by Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 (asc 4), s. 84(1), Sch. 2 para. 15(4) (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2022/111, regs. 1, 3)

F5 Words in Act substituted (5.5.2010) by The Local Education Authorities and Children’s Services Authorities (Integration of Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1158), Sch. 2 para. 7(3) (with Sch. 2 para. 7(4)(5))

F6 S. 397(4) inserted (30.4.2021) by Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 (asc 4), s. 84(1), Sch. 2 para. 15(5) (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2022/111, regs. 1, 3)