56. Section 225 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) in subsection (3) by substituting the following for paragraphs (c) and (d):

“(c) the provision of policy support and other assistance to its constituent authorities as regards any matter relating to or that may relate to local government,

(d) the assessment of public policy as regards any matter relating to or that may relate to local government, and

(e) the provision of advice and the making of submissions to the Minister or other public authorities as regards such matters.”,

and

(b) by inserting the following after subsection (3):

“(3A) (a) Where an association of local authorities or, in the event that there is a single association, such association requests a meeting with the Minister in relation to activities under subsection (3), the Minister shall meet a delegation from the association, or hold a meeting to which paragraph (b) applies, at least once in every year.

(b) Where there is more than one association of local authorities in being at the time of a request or requests for a meeting with the Minister under this subsection is or are received, the Minister may require the meeting for the purposes of paragraph (a) to be a meeting with a joint delegation from those associations.”.