Article 3(2)
1.—(1) The Sports Council shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and, subject to the provisions of this Order, section 19 of the [1954 c. 33 (N.I.)] Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 shall apply to it.N.I.
(2) The Sports Council shall not acquire, hold or dispose of land without the consent of the Department.
2.—(1) The Council shall consist of such persons as the Head of the Department, after consultation with such persons as appear to him to represent district councils, education and library boards and participants in sport and physical recreation, may appoint thereto and the persons so appointed shall hold office for such terms and upon such conditions as to retirement, ceasing to hold office and re-appointment as the Head of the Department may from time to time determine.N.I.
(2) A member shall be deemed to have vacated his office and the Council shall declare his place vacant in the following circumstances—
(a)where he gives to the Head of the Department a notice in writing of his resignation;
(b)where he becomes bankrupt [F1or has had a debt relief order made in respect of him] or makes a composition with his creditors [F2or is the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order] [F1or a debt relief restrictions order] ;
(c)where in the opinion of the Head of the Department he becomes incapacitated to hold office and the Head of the Department so informs the Council in writing;
(d)where he is convicted of an indictable offence and is sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than three months; or
(e)where he fails, without leave of the Council, to attend any meetings of the Council, or of a committee thereof of which he is a member, for a period of twelve consecutive months.
(3) The Head of the Department shall appoint—
(a)one of the members of the Sports Council to be chairman of the Council who, in the case of an equality of votes, shall have a second or casting vote; and
(b)another member to be vice-chairman who in the absence of the chairman shall, in the case of an equality of votes, have a second or casting vote.
(4) In accordance with arrangements approved by the Department, the Sports Council may appoint committees to assist it in the discharge of such of its functions or to perform such functions as it may delegate to such committees.
(5) The Sports Council may appoint as members of any committee established under sub-paragraph (4) or authorise any such committee to co-opt as members thereof, persons who are not members of the Sports Council.
(6) The proceedings of the Council or of any committee or sub-committee shall not be invalidated by any vacancy in the membership of the Council, or of any committee or sub-committee, or by any defect in the appointment of a member.
F1Words in Sch. 1 para. 2(2)(b) inserted (7.3.2016) by The Debt Relief Act (Northern Ireland) 2010 (Consequential Amendments) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 (S.R. 2016/108), art. 1, Sch. para. 10
F2Words in Sch. 1 para. 2(2)(b) inserted (13.5.2008) by Insolvency (Disqualification from Office: General) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 (S.R. 2008/94), arts. 1, 2, Sch. Pt. 1 para. 2
3.—(1) Without prejudice to section 19(1)(a)(v) of the [1954 c. 33 (N.I.)] Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954, the Sports Council shall make standing orders relating to the convening of meetings of the Council, and of committees, the fixing of the quorum, the conduct of business at meetings, the keeping of minutes, accounts and other records, the signing of cheques, the custody of deeds and other documents, the duties of officers and such other matters connected with the conduct of its business as it thinks fit.N.I.
(2) The common seal of the Council shall, when applied to a document, be attested by the signatures of any two members of the Council authorised by the Council to act for that purpose.
4. The Sports Council may pay travelling and subsistence allowances and other expenses necessarily incurred by members of the Council and committees thereof in the performance of their functions under this Order and such allowances and expenses shall be paid at such rates as the Department may determine.N.I.
5. The Council may, if the Department so approves, pay to its chairman and vice-chairman a salary of such amount as the Department may, with the approval of the Department of Finance and Personnel, determine.N.I.
6.—(1) The right of the Council under section 19(1)(a)(vi) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 to employ staff shall be exercised subject to any direction which may be given by the Department with respect to the number and terms and conditions of service of persons employed or to be employed by the Council.N.I.
(2) The remuneration of persons employed by the Council shall be at such rate as the Council may, with the consent of the Department determine.
(3) The Council may, in accordance with arrangements determined by the Department, make provision for the payment on death or retirement of pensions, gratuities or other like benefits to or in respect of the service of officers of the Council.
(4) The Council shall, after consultation with the Department, appoint a fit person to be its chief officer and, before making an appointment under this sub-paragraph, the Council shall supply to the Department particulars of the names, previous experience and qualifications of the persons from whom it proposes to make a selection and if the Department considers that any person whose name is submitted is not a fit person to be the chief officer of the Council, the Department may give directions prohibiting his appointment.