Commentary on Sections Part 3 - Health Assessment of whether the members of LETBs meet the appointment criteria
633.Paragraph 2 requires HEE to continue to assess LETBs to ensure they are compliant with the appointment criteria set by HEE. If a LETB in question is not meeting the criteria HEE must assess whether it is still able to exercise its functions. HEE will undertake such an assessment whenever it considers this appropriate. Sub-paragraph (2) requires HEE to notify the LETB of the outcome of the assessment and where HEE is not satisfied that it meets the appointment criteria HEE is required to give the reasons for this and publish these.
634.Sub-paragraph (3) provides that where a LETB is continuing to meet some but not all appointment criteria and HEE determines that it can still exercise its functions, HEE may impose conditions on the LETB relating to its operation.
635.Sub-paragraph (4) stipulates that where a LETB fails to meet sufficient appointment criteria to enable it to exercise its functions, HEE may do one or more of the following: appoint new members of the LETB; exercise the functions on behalf of the LETB; arrange for another LETB to take responsibility for the area.
636.Sub-paragraph (5) requires HEE to notify the LETB of the conditions it proposes to impose or action it proposes to take, and the reasons for doing so, before it may impose the conditions at sub-paragraph (3) or take actions described under sub-paragraph (4).
637.Sub-paragraph (6) requires HEE to publish the details of these conditions and the reasons for imposing them or taking that action.
638.Sub-paragraph (7) requires HEE to obtain the approval of a LETB before asking it to take on another LETB’s functions as described in sub-paragraph (4)(c).
639.Sub-paragraph (8) provides that regulations must require specified commissioners of health services to include in the arrangements under the National Health Service Act 2006 for the provision of such services terms to ensure that the provider complies with requirements mentioned in sub-paragraphs (8)(a) and (b). Sub-paragraph (8)(a) states that providers must co-operate with any LETB which represents that provider because it has been appointed by HEE to represent it by virtue of sub-paragraph (4)(c). This obliges providers to co-operate with any LETB that represents both its interests and the interests of providers from a different geographical area that the LETB originally represented before it was appointed to additionally represent the interests of another LETB. Sub-paragraph (8)(b) states that providers must provide LETBs with such information as they may request.
640.Sub-paragraph (9) allows the Secretary of State to make regulations specifying other circumstances where HEE may intervene in the operation of the LETB.