128F.— (1) In this section "relevant body" means—

(a) a local authority,

(b) a regional assembly,

(c) a trust or other body to which paragraph (c) of the definition of "local government body" in section 126A relates or in respect of which there is a determination under section 126L(3),

(d) a body referred to in Schedule 16,

(e) a publicly funded body in respect of which there is an order under subsection (7)(a).

(2) In respect of those local and community development programmes to which section 128B(1)(e) relates, it is the duty of a relevant body, in so far as is not inconsistent with the performance of its functions, and subject to law—

(a) to co-operate with the Committee in the performance by the Committee of its functions,

(b) to comply with all lawful requests from the Committee in respect of information sought which is of relevance to the Committee’s functions,

(c) in so far as is practicable, to ensure—

(i) in respect of any of the relevant body’s local and community development programmes and related policies and strategies, however described, in particular those programmes and related policies and strategies to which section 128B(1)(g) relate, and

(ii) in so far as those programmes and related policies and strategies impact on the functions of the Committee,

that they are consistent with the objectives of community elements of the Plan, and the Plan generally, and the actions duly taken by the Committee in the furtherance of community elements of the Plan, and

(d) as appropriate, to have due regard to any advice that may be given or to any recommendations that may be made to the relevant public authority by the Committee under subsection (4).

(3) A public authority that is not a relevant body shall, in respect of the local and community development programmes of such an authority, or body, have due regard to community elements of the Plan, and the Plan generally, and any recommendations made to it by a Committee in accordance with subsection (4)(b) and shall use its best endeavours to facilitate any requests of the Committee.

(4) Subject to and in accordance with the functions of the Committee under section 128B (including those of its functions to which section 66 relates), and any regulations made or general policy guidelines issued by the Minister for the purposes of those functions, the Committee may, for the purposes of ensuring consistency with the objectives of community elements of the Plan, and the Plan generally, —

(a) advise the local authority that established it as to the way in which the local and community development programmes and related policies and strategies of the local authority should be developed or operated as regards the administrative area of that authority, and

(b) in any other case make recommendations to any public authority or publicly funded body, as to the way in which the local and community development programmes and related policies or strategies of such public authority or publicly funded body should be developed or operate as regards the county or city or city and county concerned.

(5) Nothing in this section shall be read as requiring the disclosure to a Committee of confidential information, the disclosure of which would be in breach of non-disclosure obligations provided for by law, or the disclosure of commercially sensitive information.

(6) Where a Committee has made a request to a relevant body for information under paragraph (b) of section 128F(2), nothing in that paragraph shall be read as requiring the disclosure of information that would be materially disproportionate to what was required to achieve the intended result of the request.

(7)(a) Where the Minister is of the opinion that a public authority or other publicly funded body that is not a relevant body should, having regard to this Chapter, section 49A and some or all of the functions of that public authority or publicly funded body, be a relevant body in respect of those functions then, subject to paragraph (b), the Minister may by order declare that that authority or body is a relevant body for the purposes of this Chapter and section 49A, and shall have effect accordingly.

(b) The Minister shall not make an order under paragraph (a) in respect of a public authority for which another Minister of the Government is directly or indirectly responsible unless that other Minister consents to the order being made.]