82.Section 4 of the 1996 Act provides that SNH may, with the approval of the Scottish Ministers, appoint a panel for any locality. SNH may refer any matter relating to the exercise of its deer functions(10) to the panel and the panel is obliged to provide advice.
83.Section 12 of the Act enables members of SNH (or SNH staff) to be appointed as a member of such a panel and so take an active part in proceedings and decision-making. Previously, members of SNH could only sit on panels as an observer.
The Act Membership of advisory panels Section 12 – Scottish Natural Heritage representation on advisory panels