C2Part II Organisation of Functions of Justices
Magistrates’ courts committees
C122 Supplementary provisions as to magistrates’ courts committees.
F21
Subject to subsection (1A) below, a magistrates’ courts committee shall appoint one of their members to be chairman of the committee.
1A
Until such day as the Lord Chancellor may by order made by statutory instrument appoint, the chief metropolitan stipendiary magistrate shall by virtue of his office be the chairman of any magistrates’ courts committee for an area which consists of or includes the whole of the inner London area.
F32
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
Where the magistrates for a petty sessions area are required to meet for the purpose of carrying out any functions under F4section 21 of this Act, a meeting shall be convened by the magistrates’ courts committee or, if there is no such committee in being or the F5Lord Chancellor considers it appropriate, by the F5Lord Chancellor.
4
A magistrates’ courts committee may act through sub-committees appointed by them F6which may, if they include at least one member of the committee, also include persons who are not members.
F74A
A magistrates’ courts committee may also arrange for the discharge of any of their functions—
a
by the chairman of the committee, or
b
by the justices’ chief executive.
5
Subject to the provisions of this Act, a magistrates’ courts committee shall have power to regulate its own procedure, including quorum.
6
The proceedings of a magistrates’ courts committee shall not be invalidated by reason of any vacancy therein or of any defect in the appointment of a member.
7
A magistrates’ courts committee shall be a body corporate.
F88
A magistrates’ courts committee shall, on at least one occasion in every calendar year, admit members of the public to a meeting of the committee.
9
The minutes of proceedings of every meeting of a magistrates’ courts committee shall be open to inspection by members of the public at the offices of the committee, except to the extent that the committee determine that the minutes disclose information of a confidential nature.
10
Copies of any minutes which are open to inspection under subsection (9) above shall be made available to the public on payment of such reasonable fee as the magistrates’ courts committee may in any case determine.
11
A magistrates’ courts committee making a determination under subsection (9) above shall state their reasons for regarding the information in question as being of a confidential nature.
Pt. II (ss. 17-30) extended (1.11.1994 for specified purposes and 1.4.1995 for all remaining purposes) by 1994 c. 29, s. 79(2)(6); S.I. 1994/2594, art. 4; S.I. 1995/685, art. 3.