4.—(1) The Northern Ireland Housing Council shall continue in being as such and shall consider any matter affecting housing—
(a)which is referred to the Council by the Department or the Executive; or
(b)which appears to the Council to be a matter to which consideration ought to be given.
(2) Where it appears to the Council to be desirable to do so, the Council may make recommendations to the Department or the Executive with respect to any matter which it has considered, and the Department or the Executive shall consider any such recommendations.
(3) If it appears to the Council that the Executive—
(a)has unreasonably rejected any recommendation made to it by the Council; or
(b)has failed to consider any such recommendation within a reasonable time;
the Council may, after consulting the Executive, make representations to the Department as to the action which, in the opinion of the Council, ought to be taken as regards the matter dealt with in the recommendation.
(4) Where the Department receives representations under paragraph (3), it may, after consulting the Executive, give to it such directions as the Department considers fit with respect to the matters dealt with in the representations.
(5) The Executive shall—
(a)provide—
(i)such officers and servants and such accommodation, and
(ii)such facilities and financial or other assistance,
as are required for the proper discharge of the Council's functions; and
(b)make available to the Council such information in the possession of the Executive as the Council may reasonably require.
(6) If the Council and the Executive disagree as to the officers and servants or the accommodation, facilities or financial or other assistance to be provided, or information to be made available under paragraph (5), paragraphs (3) and (4) shall apply as if the matter were one on which the Executive had unreasonably rejected a recommendation of the Council.
(7) Schedule 2 shall have effect with respect to the members and proceedings of the Council and the other matters there dealt with.