Education, England Citation and commencement 1 These Regulations may be cited as the Regional Learning and Skills Councils Regulations 2008 and shall come into force on the seventh day after the day on which they are made. Regional council membership and appointment of members 2 1 A regional council is to consist of not less than 10 and not more than 16 members appointed by the Council with the approval of the Secretary of State. 2 The Council must appoint one of the members as chairman with the approval of the Secretary of State. 3 Members of a regional council may be (but need not be) members of the Council. Tenure of members 3 1 A person is to hold and vacate office as a member or as chairman of a regional council in accordance with the terms of his appointment. 2 On ceasing to be a member or chairman a person is eligible for re-appointment. 3 A person may at any time by notice in writing to the Council resign his office as a member. 4 A person may at any time by notice in writing to the Council resign his office as chairman. 4 1 This regulation applies if the Council is satisfied that a member of a regional council— a has been absent from meetings of the regional council for a period longer than 6 consecutive months without the regional council’s permission, or b is unable or unfit to carry out the functions of a member. 2 The Council may by notice in writing to the member remove him from office, which shall then become vacant. 3 A notice under this regulation requires the Secretary of State’s approval. 5 1 This regulation applies if the Council is satisfied that the chairman of a regional council is unable or unfit to carry out the functions of chairman. 2 The Council may by notice in writing to the chairman remove him from office as chairman, which shall then become vacant. 3 A notice under this regulation requires the Secretary of State’s approval. Salaries, allowances etc 6 1 The Council must pay— a to the chairman of a regional council such salary and such travelling, subsistence and other allowances as the Secretary of State may determine, and b to the other members of a regional council such travelling, subsistence and other allowances as the Secretary of State may determine. 2 The Council may pay to the members of a regional council other than the chairman such salary as the Secretary of State may determine. Staff 7 The Council may appoint such of its employees as it thinks fit to act as the staff of a regional council. Delegation of functions 8 1 A regional council may authorise the chairman to exercise such of its functions as it may determine. 2 If the chairman is authorised to exercise a function he may authorise another member of the regional council to exercise it. 3 A regional council may authorise, with the consent of the Council, a member of its staff to exercise such of its functions as it may determine. Proceedings 9 1 A representative of the Secretary of State is entitled to attend and take part in any deliberations (but not in decisions) at meetings of the regional council . 2 The regional council must provide the Secretary of State with such copies as he may require of any documents distributed to members of the regional council. 10 The validity of any proceedings of a regional council is not to be affected by a vacancy among the members or by any defect in the appointment of a member. 11 A regional council may regulate its own procedure. Bill Rammell Minister of State Department for Innovation Universities and Skills 12th March 2008