The Legislative Reform (Church Commissioners) Order 2021

Remote meetings and correspondence procedure

6.—(1) In Schedule 4 to the 1947 Measure (general procedural provisions), after paragraph 7 insert—

“8.— (1) A reference in this Measure to a meeting of the Commissioners, the Board or a committee includes a reference to a meeting which persons may attend, speak at, vote in or otherwise participate in without all of the persons, or without any of the persons, being together in the same place.

(2) A reference in this Measure to a place where a meeting of the Commissioners, the Board or a committee is held, or is to be held, includes a reference to more than one place, including electronic, digital or virtual locations, web addresses or conference call telephone numbers.

(3) A person is to be regarded as present at a meeting of the Commissioners, the Board or a committee at any given time if the person is at that time able to hear and be heard, and where practicable see and be seen, by the other persons present.

(4) A reference in this Measure to being present at a meeting of the Commissioners, the Board or a committee includes a reference to being present by electronic means, including by telephone conference, video conference, live webcast or live interactive streaming.

(5) In this paragraph, “committee” means a committee constituted by or under this Measure.”

(2) In that Schedule, in paragraph 5A (correspondence procedure), in sub-paragraph (1)—

(a) before “the Board”, in each place it appears, insert “the Commissioners,”, and

(b) for “its members” substitute “the Commissioners or (as the case may be) the members of the Board or committee”.

(3) In section 18 of the 1947 Measure (interpretation), after subsection (2) insert—

“(3) A reference in this Measure to a meeting of the Commissioners, the Board or a committee constituted by or under this Measure, including a reference to the place at which such a meeting is or is to be held or a reference to being present at such a meeting, is to be construed in accordance with paragraph 8 of Schedule 4.”