(1)The Welsh Ministers may by regulations provide for a scheme under which the Welsh Ministers may or, if the regulations so require, must grant accreditation to a community council if—
(a)the Welsh Ministers are satisfied that the criteria set in the regulations are satisfied in relation to a council (see section 135),
(b)the Welsh Ministers are satisfied that a council has made a valid application for accreditation (see section 136), and
(c)the required fee (if any) has been paid to the Welsh Ministers (see section 137).
(2)An accreditation under subsection (1) is referred to in this Chapter as an accreditation of quality in community government.
(1)If the Welsh Ministers make regulations under section 134(1), the regulations must set criteria to be met on an application for accreditation of quality in community government.
(2)The criteria that may be set include (but are not limited to) criteria about the following matters—
(a)the percentage of the members of the council who hold office by virtue of having been elected as described in section 35(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 (election of community councillors);
(b)qualifications of and training for officers of the council;
(c)training for members of the council and community youth representatives;
(d)the frequency with which meetings of the council are held and the publicity given to meetings (both before and after they are held);
(e)involving persons in the work of the community council;
(f)encouraging persons to improve the well-being of the community or communities for which the council is established;
(g)annual reports;
(h)accounts.
If the Welsh Ministers make regulations under section 134(1), the regulations must set requirements to be met in order for a valid application for accreditation of quality in community government to be made.
If the Welsh Ministers make regulations under section 134(1), the regulations may prescribe a fee that an applicant for accreditation of quality in community government is required to pay.
If the Welsh Ministers make regulations under section 134(1), the regulations must provide for—
(a)review of accreditations of quality in community government, and
(b)the grounds on which an accreditation of quality in community government may be removed and the removal process.
(1)The Welsh Ministers may make arrangements with any person under which that person is to exercise, in accordance with the terms of the arrangements, the functions of the Welsh Ministers under regulations made under section 134(1).
(2)If such arrangements are made, section 134(1)(c) is to have effect so that any required fee is to be paid to the person with whom the arrangements are made.
(1)The Welsh Ministers may by regulations make modifications of any enactment which imposes any obligation upon or in respect of a community council so that, in the case of a council in respect of which an accreditation of quality in community government is in force, the obligation is—
(a)disapplied, or
(b)altered so as to make it easier to comply with.
(2)The Welsh Ministers may by regulations make modifications of any enactment which confers a power upon or in respect of a community council so that, in the case of a council in respect of which an accreditation of quality in community government is not in force, the power—
(a)may not be exercised, or
(b)may only be exercised if prescribed conditions are satisfied.