16Meetings

16 Meetings

(1) The Chairperson is to convene at least 4 meetings of the Council in each financial year, and such other meetings of the Council as, in the Chairperson’s opinion, are necessary for the efficient performance of the Council’s functions. (2) The Minister may at any time convene a meeting of the Council. (3) The Chairperson must convene a meeting of the Council on receipt of a written request for a meeting signed by a majority of members. (4) The Chairperson is to preside at all meetings of the Council at which the Chairperson is present. (5) If the Chairperson is not present at a meeting:

(a) if the Deputy Chairperson is present—the Deputy Chairperson is to preside at the meeting; and

(b) if paragraph (a) does not apply and a member nominated in writing by the Chairperson to preside at the meeting is present—that member is to preside at the meeting; and

(c) in any other case—the members present are to appoint one of their number to preside at the meeting.

(6) At a meeting of the Council:

(a) a majority of the members constitutes a quorum for the purpose of any deliberation or any decision on a question arising; and

(b) questions arising are to be decided by a majority of the votes of the members present and voting; and

(c) the member presiding has a deliberative vote and, in the event of an equality of votes, also has a casting vote.

(7) Where, because of subsection 23(2), a member is not present at a meeting of the Council during a deliberation of the Council with respect to a matter, but there would be a quorum if that member were present, the remaining members present constitute a quorum for the purpose of any deliberation or decision of the Council at the meeting with respect to that matter. (8) If the Council so determines, a member may participate in, and form part of a quorum at, a meeting of the Council by means of any of the following methods of communication:

(a) telephone;

(b) closed‑circuit television;

(c) any other method of communication determined by the Council.

(9) A determination of the Council under subsection (8) may be made in respect of a particular meeting, or in respect of all meetings, of the Council. (10) A member who participates in a meeting as provided by subsection (8) is taken for the purposes of this Part to be present at the meeting. (11) The Council may regulate the conduct of proceedings at its meetings as it thinks fit and is to keep minutes of those proceedings. (12) The Council may invite any person to attend a meeting.