Explanatory Notes

Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021

1

20 January 2021

Commentary on Sections

Part 6: Performance and Governance Of Principal Councils

Chapter 2: Governance and Audit Committees: Membership and Proceedings
Section 116 - Membership of governance and audit committee

514.Section 116 of the Act amends section 82 of the 2011 Measure in order to increase the number of lay members on a governance and audit committee.

515.Before amendment, the situation under section 82 of the 2011 Measure is that at least two thirds of the members of a governance and audit committee must be members of the principal council and at least one member of the governance and audit committee must be a lay member.

516.After amendment, the situation is that two thirds of the members of a governance and audit committee must be members of the council and one third must be lay persons.

517.In addition, three subsections ((5A), (5B) and (5C)) are added to section 82 of the 2011 Measure. These provide that a governance and audit committee must appoint a committee chair and deputy chair. The committee chair must be a lay person and the deputy chair must not be a member of the council’s executive or an assistant to its executive.