SCHEDULE 6Functioning of public bodies

PART 4Local authority meetings

Introductory

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This Part contains temporary modifications of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 in relation to—

a

the grounds for the exclusion of the public from meetings of local authorities,

b

the provision of copies of documents in respect of meetings of local authorities.

Interpretation

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In this Part (other than this paragraph)—

a

references to sections are to sections of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (“the 1973 Act”), and

b

expressions used in this Part and in that Act have the same meaning as in that Act.

Grounds for exclusion of the public from meetings of local authorities

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1

Section 50A (admission to meetings of local authorities) applies in accordance with the modifications in this paragraph.

2

Subsection (1) has effect as if, after “(2)”, there were inserted “ or (3A) ”.

3

The section has effect as if, after subsection (3), there were inserted—

3A

The public are to be excluded from a meeting of a local authority whenever it is likely that, if members of the public were present, there would be a real and substantial risk to public health due to infection or contamination with coronavirus.

3B

In subsection (3A), “coronavirus” has the meaning given by section 1 of the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020.

Photographic copies of documents in respect of meetings of local authorities

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Section 50H(2)(b) (supplemental provisions and offences) has effect as if modified so that after “extracts from the document” there were inserted “ if reasonably practicable ”.