Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006

61 Members of National Park authorities

(1) Amend Schedule 7 to the Environment Act 1995 (c. 25) (National Park authorities) as follows.

(2) In paragraph 1, for sub-paragraphs (2) to (6) (constitution of National Park authorities) substitute—

“(2) A National Park authority shall consist of—

(a) a specified number of local authority members,

(b) in the case of a National Park in England, a specified number of parish members to be appointed by the Secretary of State, and

(c) a specified number of other members to be appointed by the Secretary of State;

and “specified” means specified in the relevant order.

(3) The total number of—

(a) local authority members, and

(b) parish members,

must exceed the number of other members.”

(3) In paragraph 2 (local authority members), for sub-paragraph (6) substitute—

“(5A) Sub-paragraph (5B) applies to a person who retires from being a member of a council by virtue of an election.

(5B) Sub-paragraph (5)(a) does not terminate his office as member of a National Park authority until—

(a) three months after he retires from being a member of the council, or

(b) if earlier, the day on which the National Park authority receives notice of a proposed replacement appointment;

but if he is re-elected he is eligible for re-appointment to the National Park authority.”

(4) In paragraph 3 (parish members of English National Park authorities), for sub-paragraph (4) substitute—

“(4A) Sub-paragraph (4B) applies to a person who retires from being a member of a parish council by virtue of an election.

(4B) Sub-paragraph (3) does not terminate his office as member of a National Park authority until—

(a) three months after he ceases to be a member of the parish council, or

(b) if earlier, the day on which the National Park authority receives notice of a proposed replacement appointment;

but if he is re-elected he is eligible for re-appointment to the National Park authority.”

(5) For sub-paragraph (6) of that paragraph substitute—

“(5A) Sub-paragraph (5B) applies to a person who retires from being chairman of a parish meeting by virtue of an election.

(5B) Sub-paragraph (5) does not terminate his office as member of a National Park authority until—

(a) three months after he retires from being chairman, or

(b) if earlier, the day on which the National Park authority receives notice of a proposed replacement appointment;

but if he is re-elected as chairman he is eligible for re-appointment to the National Park authority.”

(6) In paragraph 4 (members, other than parish members, appointed by the Secretary of State), in sub-paragraph (2)(a) for “three years” substitute “four years”.