The National Health Service Joint Commissioning Committee (Wales) Regulations 2024

PART 1Introduction

Title and coming into force

1.—(1) The title of these Regulations is the National Health Service Joint Commissioning Committee (Wales) Regulations 2024.

(2) These Regulations come into force on 1 April 2024.

Interpretation

2.  In these Regulations—

“the Act” (“y Ddeddf ”) means the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006;

“associate member” (“aelod cyswllt”) means the chief commissioner employed by the host Local Health Board;

“chair” (“cadeirydd”) means the chairperson of the joint committee;

“chief officer” (“prif swyddog”) means a chief executive of a Local Health Board;

“health service body” (“corff gwasanaeth iechyd”) means NHS England, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence, the Health Research Authority, any Special Health Authority, any Local Health Board, any NHS Trust or any NHS Foundation Trust;

“host Local Health Board” (“Bwrdd Iechyd Lleol cynhaliol”) means Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Local Health Board(1);

“the joint committee” (“y cyd-bwyllgor”) means the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee established pursuant to the National Health Service Joint Commissioning Committee (Wales) Directions 2024 made on 6 February 2024;

“Local Health Board” (“Bwrdd Iechyd Lleol”) means a Local Health Board in Wales established in accordance with section 11(2) of the Act(2);

“member” (“aelod”) means a member or the associate member of the joint committee as set out in regulation 3 of these Regulations;

“nominated representative” (“cynrychiolydd enwebedig”) means an officer member nominated by the chief officers of a Local Health Board. Officer member in this context means any office set out in regulation 3(2) of the Local Health Boards (Constitution, Membership and Procedures) (Wales) Regulations 2009(3);

“non-officer member” (“aelod nad yw’n swyddog”) means a member of the joint committee appointed in accordance with regulation 4 of these Regulations who is not the chair.

PART 2Membership of the joint committee

Membership of the joint committee

3.—(1) The joint committee is to consist of—

(a)the chief officers or their nominated representatives,

(b)a chair, and

(c)not more than five non-officer members.

(2) In addition there will be an associate member who may not vote in any meetings or proceedings of the joint committee.

Appointment of the chair and non-officer members

4.—(1) The chair and non-officer members are appointed by the Welsh Ministers.

(2) Appointments made in accordance with paragraph (1) must be in accordance with the provisions in Schedule 1 to these Regulations.

Eligibility requirements for members of the joint committee

5.—(1) A person must fulfil the requirements for eligibility in Schedule 2 to these Regulations before that person may be appointed as a chair or non-officer member of the joint committee and must continue to fulfil those requirements while that person holds office.

(2) A chief officer may only be a member of the joint committee under regulation 3(1)(a) of these Regulations if that person continues to hold office as a chief executive of a Local Health Board.

(3) A nominated representative of a chief officer may only hold office on the joint committee provided they continue to hold office as an officer member, as set out in regulation 3(2) of the Local Health Board (Constitution, Membership and Procedures) (Wales) Regulations 2009, of the nominating chief officer’s Local Health Board.

(4) The associate member may only be a member of the joint committee under regulation 3(2) of these Regulations if that person continues to hold office as the chief commissioner employed by the host Local Health Board.

(5) Members must immediately notify the joint committee if they become ineligible under this regulation.

Tenure of office of chair

6.—(1) This regulation applies to any person who is appointed as chair of the joint committee in accordance with regulation 4.

(2) Subject to these Regulations, a chair holds and vacates office in accordance with the terms of that person’s appointment.

(3) A chair may be appointed for a period of no longer than four years.

(4) Subject to paragraph (5) a chair may on the expiration of his or her term of office be re-appointed in accordance with regulation 4.

(5) A person may not hold office as a chair of the joint committee for a total period of more than eight years.

Tenure of office of non-officer members

7.—(1) This regulation applies to any person who is appointed as a non-officer member of the joint committee in accordance with regulation 4.

(2) Subject to these Regulations, a non-officer member holds and vacates office in accordance with the terms of that person’s appointment.

(3) A non-officer member may be appointed for a period of no longer than four years.

(4) Subject to paragraph (5) a non-officer member may on the expiration of his or her term of office on the joint committee be re-appointed in accordance with regulation 4.

(5) A person may not hold office as a non-officer member of the joint committee for a total period of more than eight years.

Termination of appointment of chair and non-officer members

8.—(1) The Welsh Ministers must, unless there are exceptional reasons, immediately remove a chair or non-officer member from the joint committee if they determine that—

(a)it is not in the interests of the health service in Wales, or

(b)it is not conducive to the good management of the joint committee,

for that chair or non-officer member to continue to hold office.

(2) If it comes to the notice of the Welsh Ministers that a chair or non-officer member has become ineligible under Schedule 2 to these Regulations, the Welsh Ministers must, unless there are exceptional reasons, remove them from office.

(3) A chair or non-officer member must immediately notify the Welsh Ministers and the joint committee if they become ineligible under Schedule 2 to these Regulations.

(4) If a chair or non-officer member has failed to attend any meeting of the joint committee for a period of six months or more, the Welsh Ministers may remove that member from office unless they are satisfied that—

(a)the absence was due to a reasonable cause, and

(b)the chair or non-officer member will be able to attend future meetings within such period as the Welsh Ministers consider reasonable.

(5) A chair or non-officer member may at any time resign their office by notice in writing to the Welsh Ministers, but subject to the terms of that chair or non-officer member’s appointment. The chair or non-officer member must also notify the joint committee of their resignation.

Suspension of members and associate member

9.—(1) Before making a determination to remove a chair or non-officer member from office under regulation 8, the Welsh Ministers may suspend the tenure of office of that chair or non-officer member for such period as they consider reasonable.

(2) Where a chair or non-officer member is suspended in accordance with paragraph (1), the Welsh Ministers must immediately notify that person and the joint committee in writing, stating the reasons for his or her suspension.

(3) A chair or non-officer member whose tenure of office is suspended under paragraph (1) may not perform the functions of membership of the joint committee during the period of suspension.

(4) A chief officer who is suspended from their position as a chief executive officer of a Local Health Board may not perform the functions of membership of the joint committee during the period of suspension.

(5) An associate member who is suspended from their position as chief commissioner by the host Local Health Board may not perform the functions of associate membership of the joint committee during the period of suspension.

Appointment of vice-chair

10.—(1) The members of the joint committee may appoint one of the non-officer members, other than the chair, to be vice-chair for such period, not exceeding the remainder of that person’s term as a member, as they may specify on the appointment.

(2) A member appointed under paragraph (1) may at any time resign from the office of vice-chair by giving notice in writing to the chair or, if the office of chair is vacant, to the members.

(3) This regulation is subject to regulation 11.

Appointment of vice-chair where chair is suspended

11.—(1) This regulation applies where the chair is suspended under regulation 9.

(2) If a vice-chair has been appointed under regulation 10(1), that appointment ceases to have effect.

(3) The Welsh Ministers may re-appoint the person mentioned in paragraph (2) or appoint another non-officer member to be vice-chair.

(4) The appointment of a vice-chair under paragraph (3) must be for a period not exceeding the shorter of—

(a)the period for which the chair is suspended, or

(b)the remainder of the non-officer member’s term of appointment as a member.

(5) When the period for which a member is appointed as vice-chair expires, the Welsh Ministers may re-appoint the member as vice-chair or appoint another non-officer member as vice-chair.

(6) A person appointed under paragraph (3) or (5) may, at any time, resign from the office of vice-chair by giving notice in writing to the Welsh Ministers.

(7) The Welsh Ministers may terminate a person’s appointment as vice-chair under paragraph (3) or (5) if the Welsh Ministers think that it would be in the best interests of the joint committee for another non-officer member to be vice-chair.

(8) If—

(a)a person resigns from the office of vice-chair under paragraph (6), or

(b)the Welsh Ministers terminate a person’s appointment as vice-chair under paragraph (7),

the Welsh Ministers may appoint another non-officer member as vice-chair under paragraph (3).

Powers of the vice-chair

12.—(1) This regulation applies if—

(a)the chair is suspended under regulation 9 and a non-officer member is appointed to be vice-chair under regulation 11, or

(b)a non-officer member is appointed to be vice-chair under regulation 10 and—

(i)the office of chair is vacant for any reason, or

(ii)the chair is unable to perform the duties of chair owing to illness, absence or any other cause.

(2) Where this regulation applies the vice-chair is to act as chair until a new chair is appointed or the existing chair resumes the chair’s duties (as the case may be).

PART 3Meetings and proceedings of the joint committee

Meetings and proceedings

13.—(1) Subject to any directions given by the Welsh Ministers, each Local Health Board must agree standing orders for the regulation of the meetings and proceedings of the joint committee.

(2) The meetings and proceedings of the joint committee must be conducted in accordance with standing orders relating to the joint committee.

PART 4Revocations

14.—(1) The Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee (Wales) Regulations 2009(4) are revoked.

(2) The Emergency Ambulance Services Committee (Wales) Regulations 2014(5) are revoked.