The Legislative Reform (Constitution of the Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons) Order 2018

Amendments to Schedule 1 to the 1966 Act

4.—(1) Schedule 1 to the 1966 Act (provisions as to the Council) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 1(1), for “the day on which a member of the Council ordinarily retires shall be the day of” substitute “a member of the Council ordinarily retires at the beginning of”.

(3) In paragraph 2, for “paragraph 3, 4 or 5” substitute “any of paragraphs 3 to 5”.

(4) After paragraph 3 insert—

“3A.— (1) A member of the Council may be removed from office if the member fails to satisfy any conditions about fitness to be a member that are determined by the Council.

(2) The procedure for removal of a member from office is to be determined by the Council.”.

(5) For paragraph 4 substitute—

“4.   An elected member of the Council ceases to hold office if the member ceases to be a member of the College.”.

(6) After paragraph 4 insert—

“4A.   A member of the Council appointed by virtue of section 1(1)(d) ceases to hold office if the member ceases to be a registered veterinary nurse.

4B.   A member of the Council appointed by virtue of section 1(1)(e) ceases to hold office if the member ceases to be a lay person.”.

(7) In paragraph 7—

(a) after sub-paragraph (1) insert—

“(1A) Where a casual vacancy occurs as respects the member of the Council appointed by a university, the vacancy shall be filled by that university.

(1B) Where a casual vacancy occurs among the registered veterinary nurse members of the Council, the vacancy shall be filled by the appointment of a registered veterinary nurse by the Veterinary Nurses’ Council.

(1C) Where a casual vacancy occurs among the members of the Council who are lay persons, the vacancy shall be filled by the appointment by the Council of a lay person, having regard to the recommendations of the committee referred to in section 1(1)(e).”;

(b) omit sub-paragraph (2);

(c) in sub-paragraph (4), omit “elected”.

(8) For paragraph 8 substitute—

“8.— (1) A person ceasing to be a member of the Council or President or Vice-President of the College is, subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (3), eligible to be re-elected or re-appointed.

(2) A person ceasing to be a member of the Council at the end of a third consecutive term of office is not eligible to be re-elected or re-appointed until after the first annual general meeting of the College following the day on which the third consecutive term of office ended.

(3) A person (A) who has been removed from office by virtue of paragraph 3A is not eligible to be re-elected or re-appointed until after the first annual general meeting of the College following the day on which A was removed from office.”.

(9) At the end insert—

“14.   The Chief Veterinary Officer for the United Kingdom—

(a) is entitled to attend meetings of the Council; but

(b) must not address the Council unless he or she is invited to do so by the chair of the meeting.”.