Citation and commencement

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Yarmouth (Isle of Wight) Harbour Revision (Constitution) Order 2001 and shall come into force on 18th June 2001.

(2) The Yarmouth (Isle of Wight) Harbour Orders 1931 to 1996 and this Order may be cited together as the Yarmouth (Isle of Wight) Harbour Orders 1931 to 2001.

Incorporation of provisions of Commissioners Clauses Act 1847

2.  Sections 15, 48, 53, 56, 58 to 60, 62 to 65, 67, 69 to 83, 85 to 88, 96, 97, 99 to 102, 104 and 109 to 111 of the Commissioners Clauses Act 1847(4) (so far as applicable to and not inconsistent with the Yarmouth (Isle of Wight) Harbour Orders 1931 to 2001), shall be incorporated with this Order.

Interpretation

3.  In this Order—

“the Commissioners” means the Yarmouth (Isle of Wight) Harbour Commissioners;

“the Councils” means the Councils referred to in article 4(2)(b) below;

“the new constitution date” means 1st July 2001.

Constitution of Commissioners

4.—(1) This article shall have effect so that the first appointments of Commissioners made after the new constitution date under paragraph (2)(a) below shall be made by the Commissioners appointed before that date and all subsequent appointments to be made by the Commissioners under that paragraph or article 9 below shall be made by the Commissioners appointed after that date.

(2) Subject to article 6 below, on and after the new constitution date, the Commissioners shall consist of—

(a)four persons appointed by the Commissioners in consultation with the advisory body or bodies established pursuant to article 15 below;

(b)four persons appointed jointly by the Isle of Wight Council, Yarmouth Town Council, Freshwater Parish Council and Totland Parish Council; and

(c)the Chief Executive of the Commissioners.

(3) Each Commissioner appointed under paragraph (2) above shall be a person who appears to those persons making the appointment to have special knowledge, experience or ability appropriate to the efficient, effective and economic discharge by the Commissioners of their functions including in particular (but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) special knowledge, experience or ability in one or more of the following matters—

(a)in the case of a Commissioner appointed under subparagraph (a) of that paragraph—

(i)commercial management;

(ii)accountancy or financial management;

(iii)harbours and marine related leisure activities;

(iv)ferry operations;

(b)in the case of a Commissioner appointed under subparagraph (b) of that paragraph—

(i)health and safety;

(ii)local transport, community relations and interests;

(iii)coastal environment;

(iv)the laws relating to England;

and the Commissioners and the Councils respectively shall secure, so far as reasonably practicable, that the Commissioners appointed by them will, between them, have special knowledge, experience and ability in a broad and complementary range of matters relevant to the efficient, effective and economic discharge by them of their functions.

(4) In making an appointment under paragraph (2) above or article 9 below, the Commissioners and the Councils respectively shall act in accordance with any guidance issued by the Secretary of State from time to time with respect to the exercise of such functions.

Appointment and terms of office of first Commissioners

5.  The first appointments under article 4(2)(a) and (b) above shall be made on, or as soon as reasonably practicable after, 18th June 2001 and of the Commissioners so appointed—

(a)one shall be appointed by the Commissioners and shall hold office from the new constitution date until 31st May 2002;

(b)one shall be appointed by the Councils and shall hold office from the new constitution date until 31st May 2002;

(c)three shall be appointed by the Councils and shall hold office from the new constitution date until 31st May 2003;

(d)three shall be appointed by the Commissioners and shall hold office from the new constitution date until 31st May 2004;

as the Commissioners and the Councils respectively shall specify when they make each of those appointments.

Transitional co-opted Commissioners

6.  To ensure that the Commissioners have sufficient experience for the efficient exercise of their functions on and after the new constitution date, the Commissioners appointed before that date shall before that date co-opt from their number the chairman and four other Commissioners to serve, in addition to the Commissioners appointed under article 4 above, as co-opted Commissioners for a period of six months beginning on the new constitution date.

Terms of office of subsequent Commissioners

7.  A Commissioner appointed under article 4(2)(a) or (b) above (other than a Commissioner appointed under article 5 above or article 9 below) shall, subject to articles 8 and 10 of, and paragraph 10 of Schedule 2 to, this Order, hold office for the period of three years from 1st June next following his appointment.

Declaration to be made by Commissioners

8.  No person shall act as a Commissioner until he has made the declaration set out in Schedule 1 to this Order (or a declaration to that effect); and a person shall cease to be a Commissioner if he fails to make that declaration within three months of the date of his appointment.

Casual vacancies

9.—(1) A casual vacancy arising in the office of a Commissioner appointed by the Commissioners or the Councils shall, unless it is not reasonably practicable to do so, be filled by the appointment of a Commissioner by the Commissioners or the Councils (as the case may be) in accordance with article 4(3) and (4) above.

(2) A Commissioner appointed to fill a casual vacancy under this article shall, subject to articles 8 and 10 of, and paragraph 10 of Schedule 2 to, this Order, hold office during the remainder of the term for which the Commissioner whom he replaces was appointed.

Disqualification of Commissioners

10.  If the Commissioners are satisfied that a Commissioner—

(a)has without the permission of the Commissioners been absent from the meetings of the Commissioners—

(i)during a period when three such meetings have been held; or

(ii)for a period of three consecutive months;

whichever of those periods is the longer; or

(b)has become bankrupt or made an arrangement with his creditors; or

(c)is incapacitated by physical or mental illness from discharging the functions of a Commissioner; or

(d)is otherwise unable, unwilling or unfit to discharge the functions of a Commissioner;

the Commissioners may declare his office as a Commissioner to be vacant and thereupon his office shall become vacant.

Indemnity insurance for Commissioners

11.  The Commissioners may enter into, and pay premiums for, a contract of insurance to indemnify the Commissioners jointly or severally against personal liability arising from any act or omission of the Commissioners or of any of them; not being an act or omission which the Commissioner or Commissioners in question knew to be a breach of his or their duty or, concerning which, he or they were reckless as to whether it was such a breach.

Incidental provisions relating to Commissioners

12.  On and after the new constitution date the provisions of Schedule 2 to this Order shall have effect with respect to the Commissioners.

Chief Executive of Commissioners

13.  The clerk of the Commissioners shall on and after the coming into force of this Order be known as the Chief Executive of the Commissioners and references to the clerk in any local enactment or in any document applicable to the Commissioners shall be construed accordingly.

Publication of Commissioners' annual statement of accounts

14.  As soon as reasonably practicable after their annual statement of accounts is prepared, the Commissioners shall—

(a)make available a copy of the statement for a period of three months at the offices of the Commissioners for inspection free of charge by members of the public and shall, subject to the payment of a reasonable charge, supply a copy of the statement to any person who requests to be supplied with a copy; and

(b)send a copy of the statement to the Isle of Wight Council.

Advisory bodies

15.—(1) The Commissioners shall establish one or more advisory body or bodies which the Commissioners shall consult on all matters substantially affecting the management, maintenance, improvement, conservation, protection or regulation of the harbour and its navigation.

(2) The Commissioners shall make arrangements for every such advisory body to meet not less than twice a year.

(3) The Commissioners shall take into consideration any matter, recommendation or representation which may from time to time be referred or made to them by such an advisory body whether or not that advisory body has been consulted by the Commissioners on the matter, recommendation or representation so referred or made.

(4) The advisory body or bodies established pursuant to this article shall consist of such number or numbers of persons appointed by the Commissioners as the Commissioners shall from time to time consider appropriate.

(5) Appointments to an advisory body established under this article shall be made by the Commissioners in accordance with a scheme prepared by them for that purpose and the scheme shall provide for the appointment of persons who, in the opinion of the Commissioners, are representative of persons having an interest in the functioning of the harbour.

(6) Any such advisory body may determine its own quorum and procedure and shall appoint a chairman.

(7) An individual member of any such advisory body may, on giving notice in writing to the chairman of that body, send a substitute to any meeting of the body.

(8) A member of such an advisory body shall hold office for the period of three years from the date of his appointment and at the end of that period shall be eligible for reappointment.

(9) A member of such an advisory body may resign his office at any time by notice in writing given to the chairman of the Commissioners.

(10) In this article, “the harbour” has the meaning given in article 2 of the Yarmouth (Isle of Wight) Harbour Revision Order 1971(5) as extended by article 3 of the Yarmouth (Isle of Wight) Habour Revision Order 1996(6).

Repeals and revocations

16.  On the new constitution date the enactments mentioned in the first and second columns of Schedule 3 to this Order (which include spent enactments) shall be repealed or revoked to the extent specified in the third column of that Schedule.

SCHEDULES

Article 8

SCHEDULE 1FORM OF DECLARATION BY COMMISSIONERS

Article 12

SCHEDULE 2INCIDENTAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO COMMISSIONERS

Appointment of chairman and vice-chairman of Commissioners

1.  There shall be a chairman of the Commissioners who shall be appointed by those of the Commissioners who are appointed under article 4(2)(a) or (b) or 9 above from among their number.

2.  The first chairman taking office after the new constitution date shall be appointed at the first meeting of the Commissioners referred to in paragraph 9 below and, subject to paragraph 7 below, shall, unless he resigns his office as chairman or ceases to be a Commissioner, continue in office as chairman until his initial term of office as a Commissioner has expired.

3.  Subject to paragraph 7 below, every chairman subsequently appointed under paragraph 1 above shall, unless he resigns his office as chairman or ceases to be a Commissioner, hold office for a period of three years.

4.  There shall be a vice-chairman of the Commissioners who shall be appointed by those of the Commissioners who are appointed under article 4(2)(a) or (b) or 9 above from among their number.

5.  The first vice-chairman holding office after the new constitution date shall be appointed at the first meeting of the Commissioners referred to in paragraph 9 below and, subject to paragraph 7 below, shall, unless he resigns his office as vice-chairman or ceases to be a Commissioner, continue in office as vice-chairman until his initial term of office as a Commissioner has expired.

6.  Subject to paragraph 7 below, every vice-chairman subsequently appointed under paragraph 4 above shall, unless he resigns his office as vice-chairman or ceases to be a Commissioner, hold office for a period of three years.

7.  If those of the Commissioners who are appointed under article 4(2)(a) or (b) or 9 above are satisfied that the chairman or vice-chairman should cease to hold his office as such, they may terminate his office as such and appoint another Commissioner to be chairman or vice-chairman during the remainder of the term for which the former chairman or vice-chairman was appointed.

8.—(1) On a casual vacancy occurring in the office of chairman or vice-chairman of the Commissioners, the vacancy shall be filled by those of the Commissioners who are appointed under article 4(2)(a) or (b) or 9 above at a meeting held as soon as practicable after the vacancy occurs.

(2) A Commissioner appointed under this paragraph to fill a casual vacancy in the office of chairman or vice-chairman shall, unless he resigns that office or ceases to be a Commissioner, hold that office during the remainder of the term for which the chairman or vice-chairman whom he replaces was appointed.

Meetings of Commissioners

9.—(1) The first meeting of the Commissioners after the new constitution date shall be convened as soon as practicable by the Chief Executive for such date as he may fix; and he shall make arrangements for notice of that meeting to be sent by post to each of the other Commissioners.

(2) The Commissioners shall meet at least six times in every year.

Vacation of office by Commissioners

10.  A Commissioner (other than the Chief Executive) may resign his office at any time by notice in writing given to the chairman of the Commissioners or, if that Commissioner is the chairman, the vice-chairman.

Reappointment of Commissioners

11.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Schedule, a vacating appointed Commissioner shall be eligible for reappointment as a Commissioner unless he has been disqualified from office under article 10 above.

(2) A vacating appointed Commissioner shall not be eligible for reappointment as a Commissioner where, immediately before his appointment, he has held office for three consecutive terms unless he is the chairman of the Commissioners.

(3) A chairman of the Commissioners who is an appointed Commissioner shall not be eligible for reappointment as a Commissioner where, immediately before his appointment, he has held office as a Commissioner for four consecutive terms.

(4) For the purposes of this paragraph, “term” does not include:—

(a)a term referred to in article 5(a) or (b) above;

(b)the remainder of a term during which the Commissioner was appointed to fill a casual vacancy under article 9 above; or

(c)any term served by the Commissioner prior to the new constitution date.

(5) In this paragraph “appointed Commissioner” means a Commissioner appointed under article 4(2)(a) or (b) above.

Reappointment of chairman

12.—(1) A chairman of the Commissioners shall not be eligible for reappointment as the chairman where, immediately before his appointment, he has served as chairman for three consecutive terms.

(2) For the purposes of this paragraph, “term” does not include—

(a)a term served by the Commissioner as chairman under paragraph 2 above where that term is less than 3 years;

(b)the remainder of a term during which the Commissioner was appointed to fill a casual vacancy in the office of chairman under paragraph 8 above; or

(c)any term served by the Commissioner as chairman prior to the new constitution date.

Committees

13.  The Commissioners may, consistently with their duties and subject to such conditions as they think fit, delegate any of their functions (other than functions set out in subparagraphs (a) to (f) of paragraph 9B of Schedule 2 to the Harbours Act 1964(7)) to a committee of the Commissioners.

Proceedings of Commissioners and committees

14.  The acts and proceedings of the Commissioners, or of any committee of the Commissioners, shall not be invalidated by any vacancy in their number or by any defect in the appointment, or the qualification for appointment, of any person as a Commissioner, or as chairman or vice-chairman, of the Commissioners or committee.

15.  The quorum required for a meeting of the Commissioners shall be five.

16.—(1) If a Commissioner has any interest, direct or indirect—

(a)in any contract or proposed contract to which the Commissioners are or would be a party or is a director of a company or body with which the contract or proposed contract is made or proposed to be made; or

(b)in any other matter with which the Commissioners are concerned,

he shall declare that interest.

(2) If a Commissioner is present at a meeting of the Commissioners or of any committee of the Commissioners at which a contract or other matter in which he has an interest is to be considered he shall—

(a)as soon as is practicable after the commencement of that meeting disclose his interest;

(b)not vote on any question with respect to that contract or matter; and

(c)withdraw from the meeting—

(i)at any time if the Commissioners present by resolution require him to do so; and

(ii)while a decision on that contract or matter is being made.

(3) This paragraph shall not apply to any interest—

(a)which a Commissioner has in respect of the payment to the Commissioners of harbour dues;

(b)which arises in respect of the provision of harbour services or facilities affecting the trading community in general;

(c)which a Commissioner has as an employee of a public utility undertaking or as a shareholder, not being a director of a company, unless he possesses more than five per cent of the issued share capital of that company; or

(d)which the Commissioners present at the meeting by resolution declare to be too remote.

17.  The person for the time being holding office as vice-chairman shall have and may exercise in the absence of the chairman all the functions of the chairman.

18.  If at any meeting of the Commissioners neither the chairman nor the vice-chairman are present the Commissioners present at the meeting shall choose one of their number to be the chairman of the meeting.

19.—(1) Every question at a meeting of the Commissioners or of a committee of the Commissioners shall be decided by a majority vote of the Commissioners present and voting.

(2) If at any meeting of the Commissioners or of a committee of the Commissioners there is an equality of votes on any question the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote which he may exercise for or against the status quo.

Authentication of seal and other documents

20.—(1) The application of the seal of the Commissioners shall be authenticated by the signature of the chairman of the Commissioners or some other Commissioner authorised by the Commissioners to authenticate the application of the seal, and of the Chief Executive of the Commissioners or some person authorised by the Commissioners to act in his place in that behalf.

(2) The Commissioners may authorise a person to act instead of the Chief Executive under this paragraph whether or not the Chief Executive is absent or incapable of acting.

(3) Any notice, licence or other document given or issued by the Commissioners shall, unless the contrary intention is expressed, be sufficiently authorised if signed by the Chief Executive or a duly authorised officer of the Commissioners.

Remuneration of Commissioners

21.  The Commissioners may pay to the chairman and other Commissioners such salary, allowances and expenses as the Commissioners from time to time determine.

General

22.  Subject to the provisions of this Schedule, the procedure and business of the Commissioners and of any committee of the Commissioners shall be regulated in such manner as the Commissioners may from time to time determine.

Article 16

SCHEDULE 3REPEALS AND REVOCATIONS

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order reconstitutes the Yarmouth (Isle of Wight) Harbour Commissioners as from 1st July 2001. It provides for the Commissioners to consist of a body of nine Commissioners with experience in relevant matters. Four persons will be appointed by the Commissioners and four persons will be appointed jointly by the Isle of Wight Council, Yarmouth Town Council, Freshwater Parish Council and Totland Parish Council. The Chief Executive will also hold office as a Commissioner. Under the terms of the Order the appointed Commissioners will retire in rotation.

The Order also includes other provisions with respect to the Commissioners' constitution including transitional provision for the co-option of five additional Commissioners and provisions for the protection of the Commissioners from personal liability in the discharge of their functions. The Order amends existing statutory requirements as to the Commissioners' accounts and repeals or revokes certain statutory provisions.