15.—(1) In relation to each new council there shall be a body called a statutory transition committee.
(2) A statutory transition committee shall be a body corporate to which, subject to the provisions of this Chapter, section 19 of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 (c. 33) shall apply.
(3) The Department shall by regulations provide for the establishment of statutory transition committees.
(4) Those regulations shall ensure that—
(a)the statutory transition committee in relation to the new council for the district of Belfast consists of members of the predecessor council and members of Castlereagh Borough Council and Lisburn City Council;
(b)the statutory transition committee in relation to any other new council consists of members of the predecessor councils.
(5) Those regulations may make provision as to—
(a)the appointment of the Chair and other members of a statutory transition committee (including the number of members to be appointed from each council mentioned in subsection (4) and any conditions to be fulfilled for appointment);
(b)the tenure of office of the Chair and other members (including the circumstances in which they cease to hold office or may be removed or suspended from office).
(6) Regulations may make provision for, or in connection with—
(a)the procedure to be followed by statutory transition committees;
(b)the payment of allowances to members of statutory transition committees;
(c)the making available to statutory transition committees of the facilities, staff and premises of existing councils;
(d)such other matters in connection with the efficient and effective discharge by statutory transition committees of their functions as the Department thinks appropriate.
(7) The Department may make payments to statutory transition committees on such terms and conditions as the Department may determine.
(8) Except to the extent to which regulations otherwise provide, a statutory transition committee—
(a)is a local government body for the purposes of Part 2 of the Local Government (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (NI 18); but
(b)is not to be treated as a joint committee of any existing councils.