(1) Before or after
appointing an Inquiry Panel to conduct an inquiry and make a report about a
local government the Minister may, by order, suspend the council —
(a) if
the Minister thinks that —
(i)
the seriousness or duration of a suspected failure of the
council to ensure that the local government performs its functions properly;
or
(ii)
such other factors as the Minister considers relevant,
make it inappropriate
for the council to act, or to continue to act, as the governing body of the
local government; or
(b) if
the Minister thinks that the conduct of the inquiry would be likely to be
seriously prejudiced if the council were to act, or to continue to act, as the
governing body of the local government.
(2) If an Inquiry
Panel has not been appointed when the suspension under an order made under
this section takes place the Minister is to appoint one within 6 months after
the suspension.
(3) If a council is
already suspended under section 8.15C, then an order may be made under
subsection (1) extending the suspension of the council and, for the purpose of
this Act, such an order is to be taken to be an order suspending the council
made under this section.
[Section 8.19 amended: No. 2 of 2012 s. 23.]