The Local Authorities (Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committees) (Wales) Regulations 2013

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

Part 6 (sections 58 to 80) of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 (“the Measure”) makes provision about overview and scrutiny committees of local authorities (county and county borough councils) in Wales.

These Regulations, which are made under sections 58 and 172(6) of the Measure, permit two or more local authorities to appoint a joint overview and scrutiny committee to make reports or recommendations to any of the authorities or their executives about matters affecting their areas.

Regulation 1 contains title, commencement and application provisions.

Regulation 2 contains interpretation provisions.

Regulation 3 makes provision for the appointment by two or more local authorities (“the appointing authorities”) of a joint overview and scrutiny committee to exercise functions of making reports and recommendations to any of the authorities or their executives on any matter which affects the whole or part of the area of each of the appointing authorities and is also not an excluded matter. An excluded matter is a matter falling within the remit of a local authority’s crime and disorder committee.

Regulation 4 requires the appointing authorities to enter into an agreement and makes provision about the contents of the agreement.

Regulation 5 makes provision about membership of a joint overview and scrutiny committee.

Regulation 6 makes provision about sub-committees of a joint overview and scrutiny committee.

Regulation 7 makes provision about the chair of a joint overview and scrutiny committee and any sub-committees.

Regulation 8 makes provision about access to meetings and documentation.

Regulation 9 makes provision about termination of membership of a joint overview and scrutiny committee on ceasing to be a member of the authority.

Regulation 10 provides that any member or co-opted member of any of the appointing authorities may not be a member of a joint overview and scrutiny committee for the period of suspension.

Regulation 11 makes provision about co-option of members on to a joint overview and scrutiny committee.

Regulation 12 makes provision about references of matters to a joint overview and scrutiny committee or sub-committee.

Regulation 13 makes provision about responses to reports or recommendations of a joint overview and scrutiny committee and about the publication of reports, recommendations and responses.

Regulation 14 makes provision about the notification to designated persons of reports and recommendations of the joint overview and scrutiny committee.

Regulation 15 makes provision about the exclusion of exempt and confidential information from published reports, recommendations and responses to reports and recommendations.