17.—(1) The membership of an MATC established under rule 16(1) shall consist of justices assigned within the courts board area (referred to in this rule and rules 18 and 19 as “justice members”) and other members, as follows—
(a)enough justices for them to be a majority of the membership;
(b)a justices' clerk assigned to a local justice area within the courts board area;
(c)a District Judge (Magistrates' Courts) who sits regularly in the courts board area, if such a judge is available;
(d)a designated family judge, if such a judge is available;
(e)a Crown Court liaison judge, if such a judge is available.
(2) There shall be no maximum number of justice members.
(3) The MATC may appoint additional justice members and shall do so where it is necessary for the MATC to comply with paragraph (1)(a).
(4) If the number of justice members has fallen so that paragraph 1(a) is not complied with, the MATC may nevertheless act for the purpose of appointing additional justice members.
(5) The justice members shall include –
(a)every BTDC chairman whose bench is in the courts board area, and
(b)a justice nominated by the Magistrates' Association.
(6) If there is more than one justices' clerk assigned within the courts board area, the Area Director for the courts board area shall appoint one of them to the MATC.
(7) At its first meeting of the calendar year, the MATC shall appoint a chairman from amongst its justice members.
(8) The Area Director may attend the meetings of the MATC in an advisory capacity only.