Regulation 1 Citation, commencement and interpretation

These Regulations may be cited as the Community Health Councils Regulations 1996 and shall come into force on 1st April 1996.

In these Regulations—

• “the Act” means the National Health Service Act 1977;

• “appointing body” means, in relation to the appointment of a member, the Secretary of State, a relevant local authority or a voluntary organisation;

• “Chief Officer” means the person appointed under regulation 13 to act as Chief Officer of a Council;

• “Council” means a Community Health Council;

• “financial year” means the period of 12 months ending on 31st March in any year;

• “member” means a member of a Council;

• “1985 Regulations” means the Community Health Councils Regulations 1985^f1.

• “relevant date” means, in relation to the term of office of any member—

  1. (a)

     in the case of a Council whose district is situated in England, 31st August; and

  2. (b)

     in the case of a Council whose district is situated in Wales, 31st March;

• “relevant Health Authority” means, in relation to a Council, any Health Authority whose area, or any part of whose area, is included in the district of the Council;

• “relevant local authority” means, in relation to a Council, any local authority whose area or part of whose area, is included in the district of the Council;

• “relevant NHS trust” means, in relation to a Council, any NHS trust established in relation to a hospital, or other establishment or facility situated or to be situated wholly or partly within the district of the Council;

In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to a numbered regulation is a reference to the regulation bearing that number in these Regulations, and any reference in a regulation to a numbered paragraph is a reference to the paragraph bearing that number in that regulation.