Area support teams: establishment and membership
354.Paragraph 12 requires the National Convener to establish and maintain committees known as area support teams for designated areas which will consist of one or more local authority areas. Those constituent local authorities must consent before the National Convener establishes the area support teams. Paragraph 12(4) specifies that area support teams must comprise a person nominated by each constituent local authority, such other persons nominated by a local authority as the National Convener considers appropriate, a member of the Children’s Panel who works or lives in the area of the area support team and sufficient other persons to ensure that the number of members nominated by local authorities never totals more than one-third of the total membership of that area support team. Paragraph 12(5) stipulates that an area support team cannot include the Principal Reporter, a member of the SCRA board or an employee of SCRA. Paragraph 12(6) provides for area support teams to establish sub-committees from within their own membership.