Northern Ireland Orders in Council

"the designated company" has the meaning given by Article 5(6);

"the Executive" means the Executive Committee of the Assembly;

"the Office" means the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister;

"public body" means -

(a) a Northern Ireland department;

(b) a district council; and

(c) any other body which is -


(i) established or constituted by or under a statutory provision or Royal Charter; and

(ii) funded wholly or mainly out of money appropriated by Act of the Assembly;

"relevant site" has the meaning given by Article 9(1) (read with Article 12(3));

"statutory body" means -

(a) a Northern Ireland department; and

(b) any other body which is -


(i) established or constituted by or under a statutory provision; and

(ii) funded wholly or mainly out of money appropriated by Act of the Assembly;

"statutory provision" has the meaning given by section 1(f) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 (c. 33).

    (3) References in this Order to the site of a development corporation shall be construed in accordance with Articles 15(7) and 20(5).

    (4) Any power of giving directions conferred by any provision of this Order includes power to vary or revoke any direction given under that provision.

    (5) At any time when section 1 of the Northern Ireland Act 2000 (c. 1) (suspension of devolved government) is in force, references in Part II to the Executive shall be construed as references to the Secretary of State.

(a) the Executive; and

(b) bodies carrying out major investment projects.

    (2) In relation to the Executive, "strategic investment functions" means advising the Executive in relation to the formulation and implementation of its programme of major investment projects.

    (3) In relation to bodies carrying out major investment projects, "strategic investment functions" means -

(a) advising those bodies in relation to the carrying out of such projects;

(b) assisting those bodies in relation to the carrying out of such projects, including providing research, consultancy, advisory and other services and general assistance; and

(c) participating, by agreement with those bodies, in the carrying out of such projects.

    (4) In particular strategic investment functions (in relation to the Executive and bodies carrying out major investment projects) include advising on -

(a) the planning and prioritisation of programmes and projects;

(b) the funding of projects, including borrowings for that purpose; and

(c) the general implementation of projects (including, in the case of projects of statutory bodies, arrangements for procuring implementation wholly or partly by persons other than statutory bodies).

    (5) References in this Part to "major investment projects" are to projects which -

(a) are of major strategic importance to Northern Ireland (or a part thereof); and

(b) involve substantial investment (whether or not provided out of public money).

(a) on 2nd May 2002 was held by or on behalf of the Crown in right of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom; and

(b) is made available to the Executive in pursuance of arrangements (known as "the reinvestment and reform initiative") made between that Government and the Executive and announced on that date.

    (2) Subject to the following provisions of this Part, the Office shall have power -

(a) to hold and manage a relevant site; and

(b) generally to implement the arrangements mentioned in paragraph (1)(b) so far as relating to relevant sites.

    (3) A certificate signed by the First Minister and deputy First Minister that an area of land is a relevant site is conclusive evidence of that fact for the purposes of this Part.

(a) may be for value or otherwise; and

(b) shall be on such terms and conditions as the Office may think fit.

    (3) In particular on any such disposal the Office may -

(a) impose such restrictions as the Office may think necessary on the use of the land disposed of; and

(b) grant or reserve such rights over the land as the Office may think fit.

(a) a draft of the order has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, the Assembly; and

(b) the site is vested in the Office.

(a) as the servant or agent of the Crown; or

(b) as enjoying any status, immunity or privilege of the Crown.

    (2) The property of a development corporation shall not be regarded as property of, or held on behalf of, the Crown.

    (3) Subject to the following provisions of this Schedule, section 19 of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 (c.33) applies to a development corporation.

(a) a chairman; and

(b) such number of other members as is specified in the order establishing the corporation.

    (2) The chairman and other members shall be appointed by the Office.

    (3) In making appointments under this paragraph, the Office shall -

(a) secure that each member has experience in a field of activity relevant to the discharge of the functions of the corporation;

(b) have regard to the desirability of securing the services of people having specialist knowledge of the locality in which the site is situated; and

(c) as far as practicable secure that the members of the corporation (taken together) are representative of the community in Northern Ireland.

    (4) At least one of the members appointed under sub-paragraph (1)(b) shall be appointed after consultation with the district council for the district in which the site of the corporation is situated.

    (5) The Office may appoint one of the members mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(b) as deputy chairman of the corporation.

    (6) It shall be the duty of the Office -

(a) to satisfy itself, before it appoints a person to be a member of the corporation, that that person will have no such financial or other interest as is likely to affect prejudicially the performance of his functions as a member; and

(b) to satisfy itself from time to time with respect to each member that he has no such interest;

and a person who is a member or whom the Office proposes to appoint as a member shall, whenever requested by it to do so, give the Office such information as it may specify with a view to carrying out its duty under this sub-paragraph.

(a) shall hold and vacate that office in accordance with the terms of his appointment;

(b) may resign that office by notice in writing to the Office; and

(c) shall cease to hold that office if he ceases to be a member.

    (5) The Office may by notice in writing remove a person from office as a member or as chairman or deputy chairman of the corporation.

    (6) A person who ceases (otherwise than by virtue of sub-paragraph (5)) to be a member or to be the chairman or deputy chairman of the corporation shall be eligible for re-appointment.

(a) a person ceases to be a member or ceases to be the chairman or deputy chairman of the corporation; and

(b) it appears to the Office that there are special circumstances which make it right that he should receive compensation,

the Office may direct the corporation to make a payment of such amount as the Office may determine.

    (3) A determination of the Office under this paragraph requires the approval of the Department of Finance and Personnel.

(a) a chief executive, with responsibility to the corporation for the carrying out of its functions and the management of its employees; and

(b) such other employees as the corporation may appoint.

    (2) The first chief executive of a corporation shall be appointed by the Office.

    (3) Every subsequent chief executive shall be appointed by the corporation with the approval of the Office.

     6.  - (1) A development corporation may make arrangements with a Northern Ireland department for persons employed in the Northern Ireland civil service to be seconded to the corporation.

    (2) Arrangements made with a department other than the Department of Finance and Personnel require the approval of that Department.

     7.  - (1) A development corporation shall pay to its employees such remuneration and allowances as it may determine.

    (2) A development corporation shall -

(a) pay, or make payments in respect of, such pensions or gratuities to or in respect of its employees or former employees as it may determine; and

(b) provide and maintain such schemes (whether contributory or not) as it may determine for the payment of pensions or gratuities to or in respect of its employees or former employees.

    (3) A determination of a development corporation under this paragraph requires the approval of the Office and the Department of Finance and Personnel.

    (4) References in this paragraph to pensions and gratuities include references to pensions or gratuities by way of compensation to or in respect of employees who suffer loss of employment or loss or diminution of emoluments.

(a) any committee of the corporation;

(b) any employee of the corporation; or

(c) any person seconded to the corporation in accordance with arrangements made under paragraph 6.

    (2) Any committee of a development corporation may, to such extent as the committee may determine, delegate any functions of the committee to -

(a) any employee of the corporation; or

(b) any person seconded to the corporation in accordance with arrangements made under paragraph 6.

Proceedings

     10.  - (1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph and paragraph 11, a development corporation may regulate -

(a) its own procedure (including quorum); and

(b) the procedure (including quorum) of its committees.

    (2) A development corporation shall make provision for a quorum for meetings of its committees to include at least one member or employee of the corporation.

     11.  - (1) A member who is in any way, directly or indirectly, interested in any matter which falls to be considered by a development corporation shall disclose the nature of his interest at a meeting of the corporation and the disclosure shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.

    (2) Where such a disclosure is made by any member in relation to any matter, he shall not take part in any deliberation or decision of the corporation with respect to the matter, if the corporation decides that the interest in question might prejudicially affect the member's consideration of the matter.

    (3) For the purposes of this paragraph a notice given by a member at a meeting of the corporation to the effect that he is a member of a specified body corporate or firm and is to be regarded as interested in any matter concerning the body or firm which falls to be considered by the corporation after the date of the notice shall be a sufficient disclosure of his interest.

    (4) A member need not attend in person at a meeting of the corporation in order to make a disclosure which he is required to make under this paragraph, if he takes reasonable steps to secure that the disclosure is made by a notice which is taken into consideration at such a meeting.

    (5) Sub-paragraphs (1) to (4) apply in relation to committees of the corporation as they apply in relation to the corporation.

     12. The validity of any proceedings of a development corporation, or of any of its committees, shall not be affected by -

(a) any vacancy among the members of the corporation or of members of the committee;

(b) any vacancy in the office of the chairman or deputy chairman of the corporation;

(c) any defect in the appointment of any one or more members or of the chairman or deputy chairman of the corporation; or

(d) any failure to comply with paragraph 11.

Application of seal and evidence

     13. The application of the seal of a development corporation shall be authenticated by the signature -

(a) of any member; or

(b) of any other person who has been authorised by the corporation (whether generally or specially) for that purpose.

     14. A document purporting to be -

(a) duly executed by a development corporation under its seal; or

(b) signed on its behalf,

shall be received in evidence and shall, unless the contrary is proved, be taken to be so executed or signed.

     15. Any contract or instrument which if entered into or executed by an individual would not require to be under seal may be entered into or executed on behalf of a development corporation by any person generally or specially authorised by the corporation for that purpose.

(a) keep proper accounts and proper records in relation to the accounts; and

(b) prepare a statement of accounts in respect of each financial year.

    (2) The statement of accounts shall -

(a) be in such form; and

(b) contain such information,

as the Office may, with the approval of the Department of Finance and Personnel, direct.

    (3) A development corporation shall, within such period after the end of each financial year as the Office may direct, send copies of the statement of accounts relating to that year to -

(a) the Office; and

(b) the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland.

    (4) The Comptroller and Auditor General shall -

(a) examine, certify and report on every statement of accounts sent to him by a corporation under this paragraph; and

(b) send a copy of his report to the Office.

    (5) The Office shall lay a copy of the statement of accounts and of the Comptroller and Auditor General's report before the Assembly.

     18.  - (1) After consultation with a development corporation, the Office may, with the approval of the Department of Finance and Personnel, determine the financial duties of the corporation.

    (2) The Office shall give the corporation notice of every determination and a determination may -

(a) relate to a period beginning before the date on which it is made;

(b) contain incidental or supplementary provisions; and

(c) be varied by a subsequent determination.

    (3) The Office, with the approval of the Department of Finance and Personnel, may direct a development corporation to pay to the Office out of any money which appears to the Office to be surplus to the requirements of the corporation such sums as the Office may determine.

    (4) The corporation shall comply with any such direction.

    (5) Any sums received by the Office under this paragraph shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

(a) provide the Office with such information relating to its activities as the Office may require; and

(b) permit any person authorised by the Office to inspect and make copies of the accounts, books or other papers of the corporation and give that person such explanation of them as he may reasonably require.

The Commissioner for Complaints (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (NI. 7)

     21. In Schedule 2 to the Commissioner for Complaints (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (bodies subject to investigation) there shall be inserted, at the appropriate place -

" A development corporation established under Part III of the Strategic Investment and Regeneration of Sites (Northern Ireland) Order 2003".

" A development corporation established under Part III of the Strategic Investment and Regeneration of Sites (Northern Ireland) Order 2003".

" A development corporation established under Part III of the Strategic Investment and Regeneration of Sites (Northern Ireland) Order 2003".

(a) for any reference to the Department or the council there shall be substituted a reference to the Office;

(b) for any reference to that Act there shall be substituted a reference to this Order;

(c) paragraph 1 shall be omitted;

(d) in paragraph 2 -


(i) for the words "Notice of the application" there shall be substituted "Notice of the Office's intention to acquire the land compulsorily";

(ii) the words "in such form and manner as the Ministry directs" shall be omitted;

(iii) in sub-paragraph (c) for the words "as may be prescribed" there shall be substituted "as the Department considers fit";



(e) in paragraph 3(1)(b) after the word "held" there shall be inserted the words "by the planning appeals commission or by any other person";

(f) in paragraph 4 the words from "and may provide" onwards shall be omitted;

(g) in paragraph 5 -



(i) in sub-paragraph (1)(a) the words "in the prescribed form and manner" shall be omitted;

(ii) in sub-paragraph (1)(d) the words "in the prescribed form" shall be omitted;

(iii) in sub-paragraph (2) for the words "as may be prescribed" there shall be substituted "as the Office thinks fit";



(h) in paragraph 6(2) for the words from "fund out of which the expenses of the council in acquiring the land are to be defrayed" there shall be substituted "Consolidated Fund" and for the words "out of the compensation fund" there shall be substituted "made by the Office";

(i) in paragraph 11(3) the words "in the prescribed form" shall be omitted;

(j) in paragraph 12 -



(i) in sub-paragraph (1) the words "such" and "as may be prescribed" shall be omitted;

(ii) in sub-paragraph (2) for the words from "clerk" to "directs" substitute "Department as correct, and publish";



(k) in paragraph 14(1) the words "in the prescribed form" shall be omitted;

(l) in paragraph 15(1) for the words "in the prescribed form" there shall be substituted "in such form as may be approved by the Department";

(m) paragraphs 19 and 20(2) shall be omitted.

(a) for any reference to the council there shall be substituted a reference to the development corporation;

(b) for any reference to the Department concerned there shall be substituted a reference to the Office;

(c) for any reference to that Act there shall be substituted a reference to this Order;

(d) in paragraph 6(2) for the words from "the fund" onwards there shall be substituted "funds of the development corporation (in this Schedule referred to as "the compensation fund"), and shall be discharged by payments made by that corporation"; and

(e) in paragraph 12(2) for "the clerk of the council" there shall be substituted "such person as may be designated for the purposes of this Schedule by the development corporation"; and

(f) paragraphs 19 and 20(2) shall be omitted.

(a) which is the property of any statutory body which has power under any statutory provision to acquire land compulsorily; or

(b) which is declared by or under any statutory provision to be inalienable,

shall not, where representations objecting to the proposal for making the order have been duly made by the owner of the land and have not been withdrawn, be exercised in relation to that land unless the proposal for making the order has been approved by a resolution of the Assembly.

(a) for the purpose of surveying or examining the land in order to ascertain whether it ought to be acquired by the Office under Article 12; or

(b) in connection with any claim for compensation in respect of any such acquisition.

    (2) Subject to this paragraph, a person authorised in writing by a development corporation may, on production if required of his authority, at any reasonable time enter any land -

(a) for the purpose of surveying or examining the land in order to ascertain whether it ought to be acquired by the corporation under Article 20; or

(b) in connection with any claim for compensation in respect of any such acquisition.

    (3) No person shall be entitled to exercise a power of entry conferred by this paragraph in relation to any land unless he has given at least 24 hours' notice of the intended entry to the occupier of the land or such lesser period of notice as may be agreed between him and the occupier.

    (4) If it is shown to the satisfaction of a justice of the peace on a sworn complaint in writing -

(a) that admission to the land which any person is entitled to enter by virtue of this paragraph, has been refused to that person, or that refusal is apprehended, or that the land is unoccupied, or the occupier is temporarily absent, or that the case is one of urgency; and

(b) that there are reasonable grounds for entry to the land for any purpose for which entry is required,

the justice may by warrant under his hand authorise that person to enter on the land if need be by force.

    (5) Every warrant granted under this paragraph shall continue in force until the purpose for which entry is necessary has been satisfied.

    (6) Any person entering any land by virtue of the power of entry conferred by this paragraph or by virtue of a warrant issued under this paragraph -

(a) may take with him such other persons and such equipment as may be necessary; and

(b) on leaving any unoccupied land which he has entered by virtue of such a power of entry or such a warrant shall leave it as effectually secured against trespassers as he found it.

    (7) A person who intentionally obstructs any person who enters, or is attempting to enter, land by virtue of the power of entry conferred by this paragraph or by virtue of a warrant issued under this paragraph shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

    (8) Where in the exercise of the power conferred by this paragraph or in executing any warrant under this paragraph, any damage is caused to land or chattels, any person interested in the land or chattels may recover compensation in respect of that damage from the Office or (as the case may be) the development corporation.

    (9) Any question of disputed compensation under this paragraph shall be referred to and determined by the Lands Tribunal.

    (10) Any power conferred by this paragraph to survey land shall be construed as including power to ascertain or fix boundaries or to search and bore for the purposes of ascertaining the course of any sewers or drains or of ascertaining the nature of the subsoil and to take and carry away, for the purpose of examination, specimens of the subsoil.