21(1)Where any matter brought up for consideration at a meeting of the Authority or a committee or sub-committee is one in which any person who is a member of it is in any way directly or indirectly interested, the person shall disclose the nature of the interest to the meeting; and where such a disclosure is made—E+W+S
(a)the disclosure shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting, and
(b)the person shall not take any part in any deliberation or decision with respect to that matter.
(2)Sub-paragraph (1) shall only apply to a person not present at a meeting if the person was aware that the matter would be brought up for consideration at the meeting.
(3)For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1), a general notification given at a meeting of the Authority to the effect that a person—
(a)has an interest in a specified company, firm or other organisation, and
(b)is to be regarded as interested in any matter involving that company, firm or other organisation,
shall be regarded as a sufficient disclosure of the interest in relation to any such matter.
(4)A person need not attend in person at a meeting in order to make a disclosure required under this paragraph if reasonable steps are taken to secure that the disclosure is made by a notice which is read and considered at the meeting.
(5)The Secretary of State may remove a disability under this paragraph subject to appropriate conditions.
(6)The power of the Secretary of State under sub-paragraph (5) includes power to remove, either indefinitely or for any period, a disability which would otherwise attach to any person, or persons of any description, by reason of such interests, and in respect of such matters, as may be specified or described by the Secretary of State.
(7)Nothing in this paragraph precludes any person from taking part in the consideration or discussion of, or voting on, any question whether an application should be made to the Secretary of State for the exercise of the power conferred by sub-paragraph (5).