Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 (asc1)

SCHEDULE 4 Notice of local authority meetings, access to documents and attendance at meetings

PART 1 Notice of local authority meetings and access to documents

Copies and publication of documents relating to meetings of local authorities

9 (1) Section 100D of the 1972 Act (background papers) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1)—

(a) after “members of the public” insert “, or are required by section 100BA(1) or 100C(1A) to be published electronically”;

(b) omit the “and” after paragraph (a);

(c) in paragraph (b) at the beginning insert “in relation to a principal council in England,”;

(d) after paragraph (b) insert “, and

(c) in relation to a principal council in Wales, each of the documents included in that list must be published electronically, but if in the opinion of the proper officer it is not reasonably practicable to publish a document included in the list electronically at least one copy of the document must be open to inspection at the offices of the council.”

(3) In subsection (2) at the beginning insert “In relation to a principal council in England,”.

(4) After subsection (2) insert—

“(2A) In relation to a principal council in Wales, copies of documents included in the list must—

(a) where they are published under subsection (1)(c), remain accessible electronically to members of the public until the expiration of the period of six years beginning with the date of the meeting, and

(b) where they are open to inspection under subsection (1)(c), be open to inspection by members of the public at the offices of the council until the expiration of that period.”

(5) In subsection (4)(b) after “the public” insert “or published electronically”.

(6) In the heading after “Inspection” insert “and publication”.