56.—(1) Subject to subsection (2), a credit union may, by resolution of a majority of the members present and voting at a special general meeting called for that purpose, remove a director from office.

(2) The secretary shall, not less than 21 days before the date of the special general meeting at which it is proposed to move a resolution referred to in subsection (1), give written notice of the meeting to the director concerned.

(3) Where notice is given of such a resolution as is mentioned in subsection (1) and the director concerned makes in relation to it representations in writing to the credit union (not exceeding a reasonable length) and requests their notification to the members of the credit union, the credit union shall, subject to subsection (5), (unless the representations are received by it too late to do so)—

(a) in any notice of the proposed resolution given to members of the credit union, state the fact of the representations having been made; and

(b) send a copy of the representations to every member of the credit union to whom notice of the meeting is sent (whether before or after the credit union receives the representations).

(4) Subject to subsection (5), and whether or not copies of any representations made by him have been sent as mentioned in subsection (3), the director concerned may require that, without prejudice to his right to be heard orally, the representations made by him shall be read out at the special general meeting.

(5) Subsections (3) and (4) shall not apply if, on the application either of the credit union or of any person who claims to be aggrieved, the F146[Bank] is satisfied that compliance with the subsections would diminish substantially public confidence in the credit union or that the rights conferred by them are being, or are likely to be, abused in order to secure needless publicity for defamatory matter.

F147[(6) A vacancy arising from the removal of a director under this section shall be filled in accordance with section 53(15).]