16Establishment and membership of combined planning authority

16 Establishment and membership of combined planning authority

(1)  A combined planning authority is established by an instrument in writing signed by the Minister which appoints the members of the combined planning authority and a deputy for each of those persons on the nomination of the specified planning authorities.

(2)  Subject to this section, a specified planning authority is to have the number of representatives which is specified in respect of the specified planning authority in the order declaring the major infrastructure project.

(3)  If an order under section 7(2) declares that the planning approval process in respect of the major infrastructure project is to be administered by a combined planning authority, each specified planning authority must, within 28 days of the receipt by the specified planning authority of notice from the Minister under section 7(7) , nominate in writing to the Minister the persons to be appointed by the Minister to the combined planning authority as members and deputy members representing the specified planning authority.

(4)  The Minister must establish the combined planning authority within 14 days of receiving all of the nominations required under subsection (3) .

(5)  The Minister may remove a person from the combined planning authority following consultation with the specified planning authority which nominated that person to the combined planning authority.

(6)  A person may, by notice to the Minister, resign as a member or deputy member of a combined planning authority.

(7)  If a vacancy arises on a combined planning authority, the specified planning authority which nominated the person who is to be replaced may nominate a person to fill the vacancy and the Minister must appoint the person so nominated to fill that vacancy.

(8)  When appointing a deputy member to a combined planning authority, the Minister is to specify the member of the combined planning authority for whom the deputy member is the deputy.

(9)  If a member of a combined planning authority is unable for any reason to perform the duties of a member, the member's deputy may perform those duties and, when doing so, is taken to be that member.