Subject to sub-paragraph (4), the Combined County Authority is to have six members in addition to the Mayor as provided for in the following sub-paragraphs.

(2)

Each of the constituent councils must appoint two of its elected members to act as members of the Combined County Authority.

(3)

Each constituent council must designate one of the members appointed under sub-paragraph (2) to act as lead member.

(4)

Each constituent council must appoint two named elected members for each member appointed under sub-paragraph (2), either of whom may act as a member of the Combined County Authority in the absence of a member appointed under sub-paragraph (2) (“the substitute members”).

(5)

In this Schedule, “members” means a lead member, a non-lead member appointed under sub-paragraph (2) and a substitute member unless the context provides otherwise.

(6)

A person ceases to be a member of the Combined County Authority if they cease to be a member of the constituent council that appointed them.

(7)

A person may resign as a member of the Combined County Authority by written notice served on the proper officer of the constituent council that appointed them, and the resignation takes effect on receipt of the notice by the proper officer of the council.

(8)

Where a member of the Combined County Authority’s appointment ceases by virtue of sub-paragraph (6) or (7) the constituent council that made the appointment must, as soon as practicable, give written notice of that fact to the Combined County Authority and appoint another of its elected members in that person’s place.

(9)

A constituent council may at any time terminate the appointment of a member appointed by it to the Combined County Authority and appoint another one of its elected members in that person’s place.

(10)

Where a constituent council exercises its power under sub-paragraph (9), it must give written notice of the new appointment and the termination of the previous appointment to the Combined County Authority and the new appointment takes effect and the previous appointment terminates at the end of one week from the date on which the notice is given or such longer period not exceeding one month as is specified in the notice.

(11)

For the purposes of this paragraph—

(a)

the term “proper officer” is to be construed as a reference to an officer appointed by the relevant constituent council for that purpose;

(b)

an elected mayor of a constituent council is to be treated as a member of the constituent council.

Chair and vice-chair

2. (1)

The Combined County Authority must appoint a chair from among its constituent council members and the appointments are to be the first business transacted after the appointment of members of the Combined County Authority, at the first meeting of the Combined County Authority.

(2)

A person ceases to be chair of the Combined County Authority if they cease to be a member of the Combined County Authority.

(3)

If a vacancy arises in the office of chair, an appointment to fill the vacancy is to be made at the next ordinary meeting of the Combined County Authority, or, if that meeting is to be held within 14 days of the vacancy arising, at the meeting following that meeting.

(4)

The chair of the Combined County Authority ceases to hold office at the end of the day before the first Mayor’s term of office begins72.

3. (1)

The Combined County Authority must appoint a vice-chair from amongst its constituent council members and the appointment is to be the first business transacted after the appointment of members and the chair of the Combined County Authority, at the first meeting of the Combined County Authority.

(2)

A person ceases to be vice-chair of the Combined County Authority if they cease to be a member of the Combined County Authority.

(3)

If a vacancy arises in the office of vice-chair, an appointment to fill the vacancy is to be made at the next ordinary meeting of the Combined County Authority or, if that meeting is to be held within 14 days of the vacancy arising, at the meeting following that meeting.

(4)

The vice-chair must act in place of the chair if for any reason—

(a)

the chair is unable to act, or

(b)

the office of chair is vacant.

(5)

If for any reason—

(a)

the chair is unable to act or the office of chair is vacant, and

(b)

the vice-chair is unable to act or the office of vice-chair is vacant,

no meeting of the County Combined Authority may take place.

(6)

The office of vice-chair is abolished at the end of the day before the first mayor’s term of office begins.

Non-constituent and associate members

4. (1)

The Combined County Authority must have no more than six non-constituent members and associate members.

(2)

Each nominating body of the Combined County Authority must nominate another person to act as the member of the Combined County Authority in the absence of a member appointed under section 11(3) of the 2023 Act (non-constituent members of a CCA).

(3)

An associate member appointed under section 12(1) of the 2023 Act (associate members of a CCA) must nominate another person to act as a member of the Combined County Authority in their absence.

Proceedings before the day on which the first Mayor’s term of office begins

5. (1)

Subject to the following sub-paragraphs, any question that is to be decided by the Combined County Authority before the day on which the first Mayor’s term of office begins other than questions relating to functions mentioned in regulation 23(7)(b) is to be decided by a vote of the members of the Combined County Authority, and any substitute members acting in place of members of the Combined County Authority present and voting on that question at a meeting of the Combined County Authority.

(2)

No business may be transacted at a meeting of the Combined County Authority unless the following persons are present—

(a)

the chair, or vice-chair acting in place of the chair, and

(b)

at least three members of the Combined County Authority appointed by constituent councils under paragraph 1(2), or substitute members acting in their place.

(3)

Each member of the Combined County Authority appointed by a constituent council, or substitute member acting in that member’s place, is to have one vote.

(4)

No member or substitute member is to have a casting vote.

(5)

If a vote is tied on any matter it is deemed not to have been carried.

Proceedings on or after the day on which the first Mayor’s term of office begins

6. (1)

Subject to the following sub-paragraphs, any question that is to be decided by the Combined County Authority on or after the day on which the first Mayor’s term of office begins excluding approval or amendment of the Mayor’s budget and questions relating to functions mentioned in regulation 23(7)(b) (functions exercisable only by the Mayor) is to be decided by—

(a)

a vote of the members of the Combined County Authority, and any substitute members acting in place of members of the Combined County Authority, and the Mayor or the deputy mayor acting in place of the Mayor present and voting on that question at a meeting of the Combined County Authority, and

(b)

a majority of those voting that includes the Mayor, or the deputy mayor acting in place of the Mayor.

(2)

No business may be transacted at a meeting of the Combined County Authority unless the following persons are present—

(a)

the Mayor or the deputy mayor acting in place of the Mayor, and

(b)

at least three members of the Combined County Authority appointed by constituent councils under paragraph 1(2), or substitute members acting in their place.

(3)

Where the deputy mayor is acting in the place of the Mayor they cannot also act in their capacity as a member of the Combined County Authority.

(4)

The Mayor, and each member of the Combined County Authority appointed by a constituent council, or substitute member acting in that member’s place, is to have one vote.

(5)

Neither the Mayor nor any member or substitute member is to have a casting vote.

(6)

If a vote is tied on any matter it is deemed not to have been carried.

(7)

For questions relating to the following matters, the majority under sub-paragraph (1)(b) must include all lead members designated by the constituent councils under paragraph 1(3) or, where any substitute members are acting in place of lead members, all lead members and all such substitute members—

(a)

approval or amendment of a budget (excluding approval or amendment of the Mayor’s budget);

(b)

the setting of any transport levy under section 74 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988(levies) and in accordance with regulations made thereunder; and

(c)

such other plans and strategies as may be determined by the Combined County Authority and set out in its standing orders.

(8)

Reference to a two thirds majority in article 8(4) of the Combined Authorities (Finance) Order 201773 is to be read as reference to—

(a)

a two thirds majority of the constituent council members, or substitute members acting in their place, or

(b)

three out of six constituent council members, to include two of the lead members of the Combined County Authority designated under paragraph 1(3) of Schedule 1.

(9)

The proceedings of the Combined County Authority are not invalidated by any vacancy among its members or substitute members or by any defect in the appointment or qualifications of any member or substitute member.

Records

7. (1)

The Combined County Authority must make arrangements for the names of members and substitute members present at any meeting to be recorded.

(2)

Minutes of the proceedings of a meeting of the Combined County Authority, or any committee or sub-committee of the Combined County Authority, are to be kept in such form as the Combined County Authority may determine.

(3)

Any such minutes are to be signed at the same or next suitable meeting of the Combined County Authority, committee or sub-committee as the case may be, by the person presiding at that meeting.

(4)

Any minute purporting to be signed as mentioned in sub-paragraph (3) is to be received in evidence without further proof.

(5)

Until the contrary is proved, a meeting of the Combined County Authority, committee or sub-committee, a minute of whose proceedings has been signed in accordance with this paragraph, is deemed to have been duly convened and held, and all the members and substitute members present at the meeting are deemed to have been duly qualified.

(6)

For the purposes of sub-paragraph (3) the next suitable meeting is the next following meeting or, where standing orders made by the Combined County Authority provide for another meeting of the authority, committee or sub-committee to be regarded as suitable, either the next following meeting or that other meeting.

Standing orders

8.

The Combined County Authority may make standing orders for the regulation of its proceedings and business and may vary or revoke any such orders.

Remuneration

9.

Subject to paragraphs 10 and 11, no remuneration or allowances are to be payable by the Combined County Authority to its members, other than allowances for travel and subsistence paid in accordance with a scheme drawn up by the Combined County Authority.

10.

The Combined County Authority may pay an allowance to—

(a)

the Mayor;

(b)

the deputy mayor provided that the deputy mayor is not a leader or elected mayor of a constituent council and is not in receipt of an allowance from a constituent council for any other role;

(c)

members of the overview and scrutiny committee and any sub-committee of that committee; and

(d)

members of the audit committee.

11. (1)

The Combined County Authority may only pay an allowance to the people listed in paragraph 10(a) to (d) if—

(a)

the Combined County Authority has—

(i)

established an independent remuneration panel under article 16 of the Combined Authorities (Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Access to Information and Audit Committees) Order 201774 (independent remuneration panels);

(ii)

considered a report published by the independent remuneration panel established under sub-paragraph (a) which contains recommendations for such an allowance; and

(b)

the allowance paid does not exceed the amount specified in the recommendation made by the independent remuneration panel.

(2)

Article 16(2)(a) of the Combined Authorities (Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Access to Information and Audit Committees) Order 2017 (independent remuneration panels) applies in relation to the Combined County Authority as if after “sub-committee of that authority” there were inserted “or a member of a constituent council or a member of a district council”.