5The validity of any proceedings of the committee shall not be affected by any vacancy amongst the members or by any defect in the appointment of a member.
6(1)Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) below, meetings of the committee shall be open to the public.
(2)The public shall be excluded during any item of business where—
(a)it is likely, were members of the public to be present during that item, that information furnished in confidence to the committee by the Director would be disclosed in breach of the obligation of confidence; or
(b)the committee have resolved that, by reason of the confidential nature of the item or for other special reasons stated in the resolution, it is desirable in the public interest that the public be excluded; or
(c)the item relates to a proposal to refer any matter to the Director in pursuance of section 45(3) or 46(1)(a) or (4) of this Act.
(3)Except to the extent that the Director otherwise directs (whether generally or in relation to the particular case), the public shall be excluded during any item of business which relates to—
(a)the determination of any dispute referred to the committee under section 39(5) of this Act; or
(b)the investigation by the committee of any matter in pursuance of section 45(2) or 46(1)(b) of this Act.
(4)The committee shall give such notice—
(a)of any meeting of the committee which is open to the public; and
(b)of the business to be taken at that meeting (other than items during which the public is to be excluded),
as they consider appropriate for the purpose of bringing the meeting to the attention of interested members of the public.