Commentary on Sections Ballot: information and expenses
161.Section 66(2) of the Act inserts additional subsections (4A) and (4B) after section 75(4) of the 2003 Act. Subsection (4A) allows Ministers to request additional information from the crofting community body in connection with the ballot, including any consultation with those eligible to vote in the ballot. Subsection (4B) confirms that the expense of conducting the ballot is to be met by the crofting community body.
162.Section 66(3) of the Act inserts additional subsections (6) and (7) into section 75 of the 2003 Act. Subsection (6) gives Ministers the power to make regulations to enable a crofting community body to seek to recover the expense of conducting the ballot from Ministers. Subsection (7) sets out the matters in relation to which such regulations can make provision, including the circumstances in which a crofting community body may make an application and the criteria to be applied by Ministers in deciding whether to reimburse the applicant.