Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011

89 Notice of community meeting convened by local government electors

After paragraph 30A of Schedule 12 to the Local Government Act 1972 insert the following—

“30B (1) Where a group of individuals assert that they have convened a community meeting under paragraph 30A above, those individuals must ensure that a notice which complies with the following requirements of this paragraph is given—

(a) in a case where there is a community council for the community, to the community council, or

(b) in a case where there is no community council for the community, to the principal council within whose area the community lies.

(2) The notice must contain—

(a) unless sub-paragraph (5) below applies to an individual, the name and address of each of the individuals who assert that they have convened a community meeting under paragraph 30A;

(b) unless sub-paragraph (5) below applies to an individual, the signature of each of those individuals;

(c) the business which is proposed to be transacted at the meeting;

(d) the proposed time and place at which the meeting is to be held.

(3) The notice must—

(a) where it is given under sub-paragraph (1)(a) above, be in writing (but not in an electronic form);

(b) where it is given under sub-paragraph (1)(b) above, be—

(i) in writing (but not in an electronic form), or

(ii) in an electronic form which meets the technical requirements set by the principal council under paragraph 30C below.

(4) In sub-paragraph (2) above—

(a) “address” means the individual’s qualifying address for the purposes of the register of local government electors maintained under section 9(1)(b) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 for the local government area (within the meaning of that Act) in which the community lies;

(b) “signature” means—

(i) where a notice is in writing, an individual’s signature or, if the individual cannot give a signature, a signature given on the individual’s behalf by a duly authorised individual who, in giving that signature, declares that he or she is so authorised;

(ii) where a notice is in an electronic form, an electronic signature in respect of an individual which meets the authentication requirements for such signatures set by the principal council under paragraph 30C below.

(5) This sub-paragraph applies to an individual in respect of whom an anonymous entry under section 9B of the Representation of the People Act 1983 has been made in a register of local government electors.

(6) Where sub-paragraph (5) above applies to an individual, the notice referred to in sub-paragraph (2) above—

(a) need not include the individual’s name and address and, if it does not do so, must instead include the contents of the anonymous entry made in respect of the individual in the register of local government electors, and

(b) need not include a signature in respect of the individual.

(7) Where a notice is in electronic form, it is to be treated as given to a principal council when the notice is given in accordance with whatever requirements the council has set as to the giving of such notices under paragraph 30C(2) below.”.