Schedule 1 – Change from alternative to executive arrangements Part 7 – Communities and Community councils Section 88 - Convening of community meetings by local government electors
97.Section 88 amends the existing provision in paragraph 30 of Schedule 12 to the 1972 Act for convening community meetings.
98.Subsection (1) of the new section 88 re-enacts the existing provisions in paragraph 30(1) of Schedule 12 insofar that in communities which have a community council, a community meeting may be convened by the chair of the council or by two councillors representing the community on the council. These triggers for convening a community meeting are unchanged. The effect of subsections 1(b)–(e) is that where community meetings are convened in this way, the existing requirements for giving public notice are re-applied. Accordingly, if the business of the community meeting is a general issue, at least seven days notice must be given; if the business concerns the existence of a community council or the grouping of a community with other communities (i.e. pursuant to sections 27A-27L of the 1972 Act as inserted by the Measure) at least thirty days notice must be given.
99.The amendment to paragraph 30(1) of Schedule 12 also removes the existing provisions whereby a community meeting may be convened by six local government electors (whether or not the community in question has a community council). Subsection (2) of the new section 88 introduces new thresholds, namely 10% of the local government electors for that community or 50 of the electors, whichever is the lower.