sec.74Annual budgets

sec.74 Annual budgets

The energy and water ombudsman must, before each 31 March, prepare, in consultation with the advisory council, a budget of estimated costs of the energy and water ombudsman office for the next financial year, having regard to expected participation fees and user-pays fees for the year. The Minister must approve, or refuse to approve, a budget by each 30 April. However, a failure by the Minister to act under subsection (2) does not prevent the Minister approving, or refusing to approve, a budget at later time. A budget has no effect until it has been approved by the Minister on the recommendation of the advisory council and the energy and water ombudsman. During a financial year the energy and water ombudsman may prepare amendments to the office’s budget for that year. An amendment of a budget has no effect until it has been approved by the Minister on the recommendation of the advisory council and the energy and water ombudsman. If the advisory council and the energy and water ombudsman differ about what should be recommended to the Minister for an approval under this section, the Minister may still give the approval. The energy and water ombudsman may authorise spending by the office during a financial year only under the budget for that year, unless the Minister otherwise approves. This section does not require the energy and water ombudsman to give the Minister any details that would, if given, prejudice a current investigation. s 74 amd 2010 No. 53 ss 38 , 3 sch 1 (sec.74-ssec.1) The energy and water ombudsman must, before each 31 March, prepare, in consultation with the advisory council, a budget of estimated costs of the energy and water ombudsman office for the next financial year, having regard to expected participation fees and user-pays fees for the year. (sec.74-ssec.2) The Minister must approve, or refuse to approve, a budget by each 30 April. (sec.74-ssec.3) However, a failure by the Minister to act under subsection (2) does not prevent the Minister approving, or refusing to approve, a budget at later time. (sec.74-ssec.4) A budget has no effect until it has been approved by the Minister on the recommendation of the advisory council and the energy and water ombudsman. (sec.74-ssec.5) During a financial year the energy and water ombudsman may prepare amendments to the office’s budget for that year. (sec.74-ssec.6) An amendment of a budget has no effect until it has been approved by the Minister on the recommendation of the advisory council and the energy and water ombudsman. (sec.74-ssec.7) If the advisory council and the energy and water ombudsman differ about what should be recommended to the Minister for an approval under this section, the Minister may still give the approval. (sec.74-ssec.8) The energy and water ombudsman may authorise spending by the office during a financial year only under the budget for that year, unless the Minister otherwise approves. (sec.74-ssec.9) This section does not require the energy and water ombudsman to give the Minister any details that would, if given, prejudice a current investigation.