Marine (Scotland) Act 2010

12 Delegation of functions relating to regional marine plans

(1) The Scottish Ministers may give directions under this section which—

(a) designate any of the delegable functions in relation to a regional marine plan which would (apart from directions under this section) be exercisable by the Scottish Ministers,

(b) direct that the functions so designated (the “designated functions”), instead of being so exercisable, are to be exercisable by such delegate acting on behalf of the Scottish Ministers as is designated in the direction.

(2) The delegate so designated must comprise of—

(a) a person nominated by the Scottish Ministers, and

(b) one or more of the following—

(i) a public authority,

(ii) a person nominated by a public authority with an interest in the Scottish marine region to which the regional marine plan applies as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.

(3) Where the Scottish Ministers designate delegable functions under subsection (1) to a group of persons, they must ensure that the group comprises—

(a) so far as reasonably practicable, representatives of persons with an interest in—

(i) the protection and enhancement of the Scottish marine region to which the regional marine plan applies,

(ii) the use of that region for recreational purposes,

(iii) the use of that region for commercial purposes, and

(b) any other persons that the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.

(4) The Scottish Ministers may give a direction under this section only with the consent of any public authority referred to in subsection (2).

(5) Where the Scottish Ministers designate delegable functions under subsection (1) to a public authority, the direction must include—

(a) a statement of reasons setting out the grounds for designating the authority in preference to a group of persons,

(b) a requirement for that authority to consult on the exercise of its functions in relation to the Scottish marine region to which the regional marine plan applies with—

(i) representatives of persons with an interest in—

(A) the protection and enhancement of that region,

(B) the use of that region for recreational purposes,

(C) the use of that region for commercial purposes, and

(ii) any other persons that the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate,

(c) a requirement for that authority to have regard to any representations made under paragraph (b).

(6) The delegate—

(a) must comply with the direction,

(b) is to be taken to have all the powers necessary to do so.

(7) In this section “delegable functions in relation to a regional marine plan” means the following functions in relation to any such plan—

(a) those under sections 5, 8 or 11,

(b) those under section 16 (monitoring etc. of implementation),

but excluding the excepted functions.

(8) The excepted functions are the following functions in relation to any such plan—

(a) deciding under paragraph 4 of schedule 1 whether to prepare and publish a statement of public participation,

(b) deciding under paragraph 6 of that schedule whether to revise a statement of public participation,

(c) deciding under paragraph 9 of that schedule whether to publish a consultation draft,

(d) deciding under paragraph 14 of that schedule whether to publish a regional marine plan or any amendment of such a plan.