Cap. 421 Art. 4Malta Crafts Council.

(1) There shall be a council which shall be an autonomous non-profit making body to be known as the Malta Crafts Council which shall have the functions, powers and duties set out in this

Act.

(2) The Council shall consist of -

*Repealed by Act XXVI.2020.10. education or the departments falling under the responsibility of that Ministry, appointed by the Minister with the concurrence of the Minister responsible for education;

(d) an officer serving in the Ministry responsible for Gozo or the departments, or sections of departments, falling under the responsibility of that Ministry appointed by the Minister with the concurrence of the Minister responsible for Gozo;

(e) an officer serving in the Ministry responsible for agriculture and fisheries or departments falling under the responsibility of that Ministry, appointed by the Minister with the concurrence of the Minister responsible for agriculture and fisheries;

(f) an officer serving in the Ministry responsible for tourism or the departments falling under the responsibility of that Ministry, appointed by the Minister with the concurrence of the Minister responsible for tourism;

(g) a member, appointed by the Minister, who shall be representing a legally constituted organisation representing entrepreneurs;

(h) three representatives to be elected by and from among craftsmen registered with the Council; and

(i) a representative to be elected by and from among entrepreneurs registered with the Council.

(3) The Minister shall designate an officer not below the rank of Senior Principal, or such other rank as the Minister may prescribe, and serving in a department falling under his Ministry, to act as Secretary to the Council.

(4) (a) The members of the Council shall hold office in an honorary capacity and, save for the elected members, shall hold office for such term as may be stated in their appointment or until such time as the Minister shall appoint another person to replace them.

(b) The elected members of the Council shall be so elected and shall so hold office as provided in the Schedule to this Act.

(5) A person shall not be eligible to be a member of the Council if he has been convicted of any -

(a) crime against property and public safety;

(b) crime against public trust;

(c) crime against public trade; or

(d) offence under the Trade Descriptions Act. another member is appointed in his stead; or

(c) in the case of an elected member, if he resigns his office in writing to the Minister; or

(d) in any other case as provided in this Act or the Schedule thereto.

(7) The Council may act notwithstanding any vacancy in its composition.

(8) The Chairman shall, and in his absence the Deputy Chairman shall, preside over the meetings of the Council; in the absence of both the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman, the members present shall elect one of the appointed members to preside over the meeting.

(9) (a) The quorum at the meetings of the Council shall be of six members; if no quorum is present at the time for which a meeting is convened, the meeting shall commence after thirty minutes, provided that no decision of the Council shall be valid unless it is supported by at least four members of the Council, one of whom being a member appointed by the Minister.

(b) The Chairman or the member presiding at a meeting shall have an original, and in the case of an equality of votes, a second or casting vote.

(c) The Council may ask any person as it may deem fit to attend meetings of the Council to advise it on any matter before the Council, and such persons shall not be entitled to vote at such meetings.

(d) Otherwise, the Council shall regulate its own procedures.

(10) The Chairman shall enforce the decisions of the Council through the agency of his department, or of other departments of Government or through other bodies, agencies or persons, after consultation with the Council.

(11) The Secretary shall keep minutes of meetings and send notices convening meetings of the Council.

(12) The Council shall meet at least once a month and shall be convened on such date and time as may be directed by the Chairman or as may be requested by any five of its members.

(13) The judicial representation of the Council shall vest in the Chairman or such other member as the Council shall appoint for particular purposes. Any such appointment shall be notified in the Gazette.