20.—(1) Where a commissioner, a member of the staff of the Commission, or a consultant, adviser or other person engaged by the Commission, has a pecuniary interest or other beneficial interest in, or material to, any matter which falls to be considered by the Commission, he or she shall—

(a) disclose to the Commission and in the case of disclosure by a commissioner where there is only one commissioner, that commissioner shall disclose to the Minister, the nature of his or her interest in advance of any consideration of the matter,

(b) neither influence nor seek to influence a decision in relation to the matter,

(c) take no part in any consideration of the matter, unless there are compelling reasons requiring him or her to do so,

(d) if he or she is a commissioner, withdraw from a meeting of the Commission for so long as the matter is being discussed or considered by the Commission, and unless there are compelling reasons requiring him or her to do so, shall not vote or otherwise act in relation to the matter, and

(e) prepare and furnish in advance to the Commission or Minister, as appropriate, a statement in writing of the compelling reasons aforesaid.

(2) For the purposes of this section, but without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), a person shall be regarded as having a beneficial interest if—

(a) he or she or any connected relative F21[or civil partner within the meaning of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010], or any nominee of his or her or any connected relative F21[or civil partner within the meaning of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010], is a member of an undertaking or any other body which has a beneficial interest in, or material to, a matter referred to in that subsection,

(b) he or she or any connected relative F21[or civil partner within the meaning of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010] is in partnership with or is in the employment of a person who has a beneficial interest in, or material to, such a matter,

(c) he or she or any connected relative F21[or civil partner within the meaning of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010] is a party to any arrangement or agreement (whether or not enforceable) concerning land to which such a matter relates, or

(d) any connected relative F21[or civil partner within the meaning of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010] has a beneficial interest in, or material to, such a matter.

(3) In subsection (2), “connected relative F21[or civil partner within the meaning of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010]” means, in relation to a person to whom that subsection applies, the person's spouse or partner, parent, brother, sister, child or a child of a spouse or partner.

(4) For the purposes of this section, a person shall not be regarded as having a beneficial interest in, or material to, any matter, by reason only of an interest of his or her or of any undertaking or of any other body or person mentioned in subsection (2) which is so remote or insignificant that it cannot reasonably be regarded as likely to influence a person in considering, discussing or in voting on, any question with respect to the matter, or in performing any function in relation to that matter.

(5) Where a question arises as to whether or not a course of conduct, if pursued by a person, would be a failure by him or her to comply with the requirements of subsection (1), the question shall be determined by the Commission or, where there is only one commissioner, in the case of that commissioner, by the Minister.

(6) Particulars of the determination under subsection (5) shall be recorded by the Commission in the minutes of the meeting concerned or by the Minister by letter addressed to the Commission.

(7) Where a disclosure is made to the Commission or the Minister pursuant to subsection (1), particulars of the disclosure shall be recorded in the minutes of any meeting concerned or by the Minister by letter addressed to the Commission.

(8) Where a person referred to in this section, other than a commissioner, fails to make a disclosure in accordance with this section, the Commission shall decide the appropriate action (including removal from office or termination of contract) to be taken.

(9) Where a commissioner fails to make a disclosure in accordance with this section, the Minister shall decide the appropriate action (including removal from office) to be taken.