6.—(1) A member of the Regional Board appointed under paragraph 3(1)(a) or (b)—
(a)may resign membership by serving notice on the Department;
(b)may be removed from office by the Department.
(2) A member of the Regional Board appointed under paragraph 3(1)(e) may be removed from office by the Chair and the members specified in paragraph 3(1)(b) and (c).
(3) Where any member of the Regional Board—
(a)is absent from the meetings of the Regional Board for more than 6 months consecutively, except for an approved reason; or
(b)is convicted of an indictable offence;
the Regional Board shall forthwith, by resolution, declare the office to be vacant and shall notify that fact in such manner as it thinks fit, and thereupon the office shall become vacant.
(4) In sub-paragraph (3)(a) “approved reason” means a reason approved—
(a)in the case of members appointed under paragraph 3(1)(e), by the Chair and the members specified in paragraph 3(1)(b) and (c);
(b)in the case of any other member, by the Department.
(5) Where the place of a member specified in paragraph 3(1)(a), (b) or (e) becomes vacant before the expiration of the member’s term of office whether by death, resignation or otherwise, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment—
(a)in the case of a member specified in paragraph 3(1)(a) or (b), by the Department;
(b)in the case of a member specified in paragraph 3(1)(e), by the Chair and the members specified in paragraph 3(1)(b) and (c);
and any person so appointed shall hold office for the remainder of the term of office of the former member.