Water Act 1983

1 Constitution and procedure of water authorities

(1) For section 3 of the principal Act (members of water authorities) there is substituted the following section—

“3 Constitution and procedure of water authorities.

(1) Each of the regional water authorities shall consist of the following members—

(a) a chairman appointed by the Secretary of State,

(b) two members appointed by the Minister, and

(c) not less than six nor more than twelve other members appointed by the Secretary of State.

(2) The Welsh authority shall consist of a chairman, and not less than eight nor more than fourteen other members, appointed by the Secretary of State.

(3) The Secretary of State shall designate a member of each water authority as deputy chairman of that authority.

(4) The members appointed by the Minister shall be persons who appear to him to have had experience of, and shown capacity in, agriculture, land drainage or fisheries.

(5) In the case of the regional water authorities, the members appointed by the Secretary of State shall be persons who appear to him to have had experience of, and shown capacity in, some matter relevant to the functions of water authorities.

(6) In the case of the Welsh authority—

(a) at least two members shall be persons who appear to the Secretary of State to have had experience of, and shown capacity in, land drainage or fisheries ; and

(b) the remaining members shall be persons who appear to him to have had experience of, and shown capacity in, some other matter relevant to the functions of water authorities.

(7) In appointing the members of a water authority, regard shall be had to the desirability of members of the authority being familiar with the requirements and circumstances of the authority's area.”.

(2) In Part II of Schedule 1 to the [1975 c. 24.] House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (bodies of which all members are disqualified), the following entries are inserted at the appropriate places—

• “A regional water authority established in accordance with section 2 of the [1973 c. 37.] Water Act 1973”;

• “The Welsh Water Authority”.

(3) For Part I of Schedule 3 to the principal Act (supplementary provisions as to administration etc, of water authorities) there are substituted the provisions set out in Schedule 1 to this Act.