Source: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisi/2006/3336/part/III/chapter/III
Timestamp: 2020-02-22 20:34:56
Document Index: 501441735

Matched Legal Cases: ['Art. 45', 'art. 1', 'art. 2', 'art. 3', 'Art. 46', 'art. 1', 'art. 2', 'art. 3', 'Art. 47', 'art. 1', 'art. 2', 'art. 3', 'Art. 48', 'art. 1', 'art. 2', 'art. 3', 'Art. 49', 'art. 1', 'art. 2', 'art. 3', 'Art. 50', 'art. 1', 'art. 2', 'art. 3', 'Art. 51', 'art. 1', 'art. 2', 'art. 3', 'Art. 52', 'art. 1', 'art. 2', 'art. 3', 'Art. 53', 'art. 1', 'art. 2', 'art. 3', 'Art. 54', 'art. 54', 'art. 1', 'art. 54', 'art. 2', 'art. 3', 'Art. 55', 'art. 1', 'art. 2', 'art. 3', 'art. 56', 'art. 1', 'art. 3', 'Art. 56', 'art. 1', 'art. 2', 'art. 3', 'art. 57', 'art. 2', 'Art. 57', 'art. 1', 'art. 2', 'art. 3', 'Art. 58', 'art. 1', 'art. 2', 'art. 3', 'Art. 59', 'art. 1', 'art. 2', 'art. 3']

The Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006, CHAPTER III is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 22 February 2020. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
CHAPTER IIIN.I.CONSUMER PROTECTION: THE GENERAL CONSUMER COUNCIL
The General Consumer Council: preliminaryN.I.
45.—(1) This Chapter confers functions on the General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland (“the Council”) in relation to consumer matters.
“consumer matter” means any matter connected with the interests of consumers;
the supply of water to premises by water undertakers; and
the provision of sewerage services by sewerage undertakers.
(3) In considering the interests of consumers the Council shall have regard to the interests of—
(4) The Council shall carry out its functions under this Chapter in the manner which it considers is best calculated to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development.
(5) The Council shall establish a group in connection with the exercise of its functions under this Chapter.
(6) Accordingly, in paragraph 10(1) of Schedule 1 to the General Consumer Council (Northern Ireland) Order 1984 (NI 12) (“the 1984 Order”) after head (bb) there shall be inserted—
“(bbb)a group in connection with the exercise of its functions under Chapter III of Part III of the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006.”.
(7) Nothing in paragraph (5) or (6) or Article 9(1) or (2) of the Energy Order (establishment of group in relation to energy) affects the power conferred by paragraph 10(8) of Schedule 1 to the 1984 Order (power by order to reduce number of groups); and accordingly an order under paragraph 10(8) of that Schedule may repeal paragraphs (5) and (6) and Article 9(1) and (2) of the Energy Order.
(8) Nothing in Article 4 of the 1984 Order authorises or requires the Council to carry out any function in relation to a consumer matter otherwise than in accordance with this Chapter.
(9) The Council shall send to the Department a copy of every annual report prepared by it under paragraph 12 of Schedule 1 to the 1984 Order.
I1Art. 45 wholly in operation at 1.4.2007, see art. 1(2) and S.R. 2007/194, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II (subject to art. 3, Sch. 2)
46.—(1) The Council shall, before each financial year, publish a document (the “forward work programme”) containing a general description of the projects which it plans to undertake during the year in the exercise of its functions under this Chapter (other than projects comprising routine activities in the exercise of those functions).
(3) The forward work programme for any year shall also include an estimate of the overall expenditure which the Council expects to incur during the year in the exercise of its functions under this Chapter.
(4) The forward work programme prepared under this Article may, if the Council so decides, be combined in a single programme with the forward work programme of the Council prepared under Article 10 of the Energy Order.
(5) Before publishing the forward work programme for any year (other than one which is combined as mentioned in paragraph (4)), the Council shall give notice—
(6) The notice under paragraph (5) shall be published by the Council in such manner as it considers appropriate for the purpose of bringing the matters contained in it to the attention of persons likely to be affected by them.
(7) The Council shall send a copy of any notice given by it under paragraph (5) to the Authority and the Department.
I2Art. 46 wholly in operation at 1.4.2007, see art. 1(2) and S.R. 2007/194, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II (subject to art. 3, Sch. 2)
Co-operation between the Council and other authoritiesN.I.
I3Art. 47 wholly in operation at 1.4.2007, see art. 1(2) and S.R. 2007/194, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II (subject to art. 3, Sch. 2)
I4Art. 48 wholly in operation at 1.4.2007, see art. 1(2) and S.R. 2007/194, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II (subject to art. 3, Sch. 2)
Provision of advice and information to public authorities and other personsN.I.
49. Subject to Article 57, the Council may—
to public authorities, companies holding an appointment under Chapter I and other persons whose activities may affect the interests of consumers.
I5Art. 49 wholly in operation at 1.4.2007, see art. 1(2) and S.R. 2007/194, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II (subject to art. 3, Sch. 2)
Provision of information to consumersN.I.
50.—(1) The Council may provide information to consumers about consumer matters in such form as appears to the Council to be most useful to the recipients.
(2) That power may be exercised by—
I6Art. 50 wholly in operation at 1.4.2007, see art. 1(2) and S.R. 2007/194, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II (subject to art. 3, Sch. 2)
Power to publish information and advice about consumer mattersN.I.
51. Subject to Article 57, if it appears to the Council that the publication of any advice and information about consumer matters (including information about the views of consumers on such matters) would promote the interests of consumers, the Council may publish that advice or information in such manner as it thinks fit.
I7Art. 51 wholly in operation at 1.4.2007, see art. 1(2) and S.R. 2007/194, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II (subject to art. 3, Sch. 2)
I8Art. 52 wholly in operation at 1.4.2007, see art. 1(2) and S.R. 2007/194, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II (subject to art. 3, Sch. 2)
I9Art. 53 wholly in operation at 1.4.2007, see art. 1(2) and S.R. 2007/194, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II (subject to art. 3, Sch. 2)
I10Art. 54 wholly in operation at 1.4.2007; art. 54 in operation at 1.1.2007 in so far as it confers power on a Northern Ireland department to make regulations or orders or makes provision with respect to the exercise of any such power, see art. 1(3)(e); art. 54 in operation at 1.4.2007 insofar as not already in operation by S.R. 2007/194, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II (subject to art. 3, Sch. 2)
55.—(1) This Article applies to a complaint which any person (“the complainant”) has against a relevant undertaker in relation to any matter connected with the functions of that undertaker.
(2) Where a complaint to which this Article applies (other than one appearing to the Council to be frivolous or vexatious) is referred to the Council by or on behalf of the complainant, the Council shall (subject to paragraph (8)) investigate the complaint for the purpose of determining whether it is appropriate to take any action under paragraph (9).
(3) Where it appears to the Council that the complaint is one the Authority would be required to investigate under Article 243, the Council shall refer the complaint to the Authority.
(4) Where it appears to the Council that the complaint relates to a matter in respect of which a function under Article 30 or 35 is or may be exercisable by any person, the Council shall (unless it considers that that person already has notice of the matter) refer the matter to that person.
(5) Where it appears to the Council that the complaint relates to a matter which constitutes or might constitute an offence under this Order, the Council shall refer the matter to the Department.
(6) Where it appears to the Council that the complaint relates to a matter which constitutes a dispute of a kind which can be referred to the Authority for determination under any provision of this Order, the Council shall, if the complainant consents, refer the matter to the Authority.
(7) A referral under paragraph (6) shall have effect for the purposes of Article 61 as if it were a referral by the complainant of a dispute for determination by the Authority.
(8) The Council is not required to investigate any matter if it appears to the Council that—
(a)it is unlikely that the complaint could be resolved by action taken by the relevant undertaker;
(b)the relevant undertaker has not been given a reasonable opportunity to deal with the complaint; or
(c)in a case mentioned in paragraph (3), (4), (5) or (6), it is inappropriate to do so.
(9) Where it appears to the Council to be appropriate to do so with a view to assisting in reaching a satisfactory resolution of a complaint referred to it under this Article, the Council shall make representations on behalf of the complainant to the relevant undertaker about anything to which the complaint relates.
(10) After investigating a complaint the Council may make a report to the Authority or the Department.
(11) A report under paragraph (10) may include information about—
(a)any representations made by the Council under paragraph (9); and
(b)the response of the relevant undertaker to the complaint or any such representations.
(12) No report under paragraph (10) or information about a complaint referred to the Council under this Article, from which the complainant may be identified, shall be published or disclosed by the Council, the Authority or the Department in the exercise of any power under this Order without the consent of the complainant.
(13) Where a representation made to the Authority or the Department about any matter (other than a representation appearing to it be frivolous or vexatious) appears to that body—
that body shall refer the matter to the Council.
I11Art. 55 wholly in operation at 1.4.2007, see art. 1(2) and S.R. 2007/194, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II (subject to art. 3, Sch. 2)
Power of the Council to investigate other mattersN.I.
F1Word in art. 56(2) substituted (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 253(9) (with art. 3)
I12Art. 56 wholly in operation at 1.4.2007, see art. 1(2) and S.R. 2007/194, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II (subject to art. 3, Sch. 2)
Restrictions on disclosure of information by the CouncilN.I.
57.—(1) This Article applies to the functions of the Council—
(a)in preparing so much of its annual report under paragraph 12 of Schedule 1 to the 1984 Order as relates to its functions under this Chapter;
(b)in exercising its functions under Article 49 or 50;
(c)in publishing anything under Article 51;
(d)in publishing a notice under Article 52(5) or 54(6); and
(e)in sending or publishing a report under Article 56(3).
(2) Subject to paragraph (7), information which relates to the affairs of any particular individual or body of persons (corporate or unincorporate) shall not be disclosed in the exercise of a function to which this Article relates unless one or more of sub-paragraphs (a) to (c) of paragraph (3) applies to the information.
(4) Before deciding to disclose any information relating to a particular individual or body in pursuance of paragraph (3)(c) above, the Council shall—
(5) Subject to paragraph (7), the Council shall not in the exercise of any function to which this Article applies disclose any information which it considers relates to any matter which is, or is likely to be, the subject of criminal proceedings.
(6) In considering whether information relates to any matter as mentioned in paragraph (5), the Council shall have regard to any opinion expressed (whether in relation to the information itself or to information of a description which applies to that information) by the Department or the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.
(7) Where this Article applies by virtue of paragraph (1)(b), paragraphs (2) to (5) do not apply to a disclosure of information which is made to the Authority, the Department, the [F2CMA] or any other public authority.
(8) The disclosure by the Council of information in the exercise of a function to which this Article applies does not contravene Article 265 (restriction on disclosure of information).
(9) In this Article “disclosure” includes publication.
F2Word in art. 57(7) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 6 para. 191; S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)
I13Art. 57 wholly in operation at 1.4.2007, see art. 1(2) and S.R. 2007/194, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II (subject to art. 3, Sch. 2)
Duty to consult the CouncilN.I.
I14Art. 58 wholly in operation at 1.4.2007, see art. 1(2) and S.R. 2007/194, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II (subject to art. 3, Sch. 2)
Provision of statistical information about complaintsN.I.
I15Art. 59 wholly in operation at 1.4.2007, see art. 1(2) and S.R. 2007/194, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II (subject to art. 3, Sch. 2)