Part 3Marine planning
Chapter 2Marine plans
54Duty to keep relevant matters under review
1
A marine plan authority must keep under review the matters which may be expected to affect the exercise of its functions relating to—
a
the identification of areas which are to be marine plan areas, and
b
the preparation, adoption, review, amendment or withdrawal of marine plans for those areas.
The reference in paragraph (b) to review is a reference to the functions of the marine plan authority under section 61.
2
The matters include—
a
the physical, environmental, social, cultural and economic characteristics of the authority’s region and of the living resources which the region supports;
b
the purposes for which any part of the region is used;
c
the communications, energy and transport systems of the region;
d
any other considerations which may be expected to affect those matters.
3
The matters also include—
a
any changes which could reasonably be expected to occur in relation to any such matter;
b
the effect that any such changes may have in relation to the sustainable development of the region, its natural resources, or the living resources dependent on the region.
4
The reference in subsection (2)(a) to the cultural characteristics of the authority’s region includes a reference to characteristics of that region which are of a historic or archaeological nature.