Section 8: Meetings of Council

8. Meetings of Council (1) (a) The Council shall hold an annual summit to be chaired by the Prime Minister, to which shall be invited a cross-section of civil society for the purpose of building consensus on major issues and programmes. (b) The Annual Summit shall— (i) review the work undertaken during the previous year; (ii) examine and approve the work programme for the coming year; (iii) discuss any vital socio-economic issue facing the nation. (c) The agenda of the Annual Summit shall be prepared by the Executive Committee after consultations with relevant Ministers on current national issues. (2) The Council shall otherwise meet— (a) at least once quarterly; (b) as and when required by the Chairperson; (c) whenever 10 members of the Council shall make a written request to that effect to the Chairperson. (3) Subject to the other provisions of this Act, the Council may regulate its meetings and proceedings in such manner as it deems fit. (4) The Councillors shall attend in person any meeting of the Council. (5) The Council shall consider and express its position in relation to any recommendation made by a Commission. (6) Where any matter that falls within the purview of a Minister comes up for consideration, the Minister concerned, or, if the Minister is unable to attend, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry concerned, shall be invited to attend, and participate in any debate but shall not take part in the final decision-making of the Council. (7) Where the Chairperson is for any reason unable to attend to any of his functions, the Vice-Chairperson shall act as Chairperson.