Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020

PART 4 Local authority meetings

Introductory

11 This Part contains temporary modifications of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 in relation to—

(a) the grounds for the exclusion of the public from meetings of local authorities,

(b) the provision of copies of documents in respect of meetings of local authorities.

Interpretation

12 In this Part (other than this paragraph)—

(a) references to sections are to sections of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (“the 1973 Act”), and

(b) expressions used in this Part and in that Act have the same meaning as in that Act.

Grounds for exclusion of the public from meetings of local authorities

13 (1) Section 50A (admission to meetings of local authorities) applies in accordance with the modifications in this paragraph.

(2) Subsection (1) has effect as if, after “(2)”, there were inserted “or (3A)”.

(3) The section has effect as if, after subsection (3), there were inserted—

“(3A) The public are to be excluded from a meeting of a local authority whenever it is likely that, if members of the public were present, there would be a real and substantial risk to public health due to infection or contamination with coronavirus.

(3B) In subsection (3A), “coronavirus” has the meaning given by section 1 of the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020.”.

Photographic copies of documents in respect of meetings of local authorities

14 Section 50H(2)(b) (supplemental provisions and offences) has effect as if modified so that after “extracts from the document” there were inserted “if reasonably practicable”.