Section 5: Forward work programmes
39.The Council is required by section 5 to prepare, publish, and consult on a draft forward work programme for each financial year, and to consider any representations made in response to that consultation. Copies of the draft programme must be sent to the Secretary of State, Scottish Ministers, Welsh Ministers, the OFT, and regulatory bodies that the Council considers might have an interest.
40.This section specifies that the forward work programme must include a statement of priorities in relation to designated consumers and the main activities and projects to be undertaken in respect of them (subsection (1)(a) and (b)). It requires the Council to describe other priorities, activities and projects that it proposes to undertake (subsection (1)(c) and (d)). The Council must provide an estimate of the overall expenditure in respect of the work programme, including an estimate of expenditure in relation to work in respect of designated consumers (subsection (3)(a) and (b)), with separate estimates for each designated sector (subsection (4)).
