ELIZABETH THE SECOND, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Our other Realms and Territories QUEEN, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, to
Our Right Trusty and well-beloved:
Ralph Alan Griffiths.
Our Trusty and well-beloved:
Daniel Gruffydd Jones.
Alexandra Nicol.
Geoffrey John Wainwright; Member of Our Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
Eurwyn Wiliam.
Patrick Sims-Williams.
Llinos Olwen Wyn Smith.
John Arthur Newman.
David Wyatt Crossley.
Greeting!
WHEREAS We have revoked and determined and do by these Presents revoke and determine all the Warrants whereby Commissioners were appointed on the sixth day of April 1992 to the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, and on any subsequent date:
NOW KNOW YE that We, reposing great trust and confidence in your knowledge and ability, have authorised and appointed, and do by these Presents authorise and appoint you, the said Ralph Alan Griffiths (Chairman), Daniel Gruffydd Jones, Alexandra Nicol, Geoffrey John Wainwright, Eurwyn Wiliam, Patrick Sims-Williams, Llinos Olwen Wyn Smith, John Arthur Newman, David Wyatt Crossley to be Our Commissioners, of Our Commission now to be known as the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, to provide for the survey and recording of ancient and historical monuments and constructions connected with, or illustrative of, the contemporary culture, civilisation and conditions of the life of the people in Wales from the earliest times (including the ancient and historical monuments and constructions in, on or under, the sea bed within the United Kingdom territorial sea adjacent to Wales) by compiling, maintaining and curating the National Monuments Record of Wales as the basic national record of the archaeological and historical environment: by identifying, surveying, interpreting and recording all buildings, sites and ancient monuments of archaeological, architectural and historic interest in Wales or within the territorial sea adjacent to Wales, in order both to enhance and update the National Monuments Record of Wales, and also to respond to statutory needs: by providing advice and information relevant to the preservation and conservation of such buildings, sites and ancient monuments of archaeological, architectural and historic interest: by collecting and exchanging data with other record holders and providing an index to data from other sources: by promoting the public use of information available in the National Monuments Record of Wales by all appropriate means: by establishing and maintaining national standards in surveying, recording and curating of records relating to archaeology and historical architecture and providing guidance on these matters to other bodies and by exercising responsibility for the oversight of local Sites and Monuments Records:
AND We do by these Presents will and ordain that Our Commissioners shall consist of a Chairman and not more than 10 other persons, appointed by Us on the advice of Our First Lord of the Treasury in consultation with Our Secretary of State and Our National Assembly for Wales, the terms of appointment of Commissioners and Chairman being determined by Our Secretary of State in consultation with Our National Assembly for Wales; and all such Commissioners and Chairman shall hold and vacate and may be removed from office in accordance with their terms of their appointment: a Commissioner other than the Chairman shall not be appointed for a term of more than five years but shall be eligible for reappointment: and a Commissioner may resign at any time by giving notice in writing to Our Secretary of State: a Vice-Chairman shall be appointed by the Commission from among the Commissioners, and the terms of the appointment shall be determined by the Commission: and if Our Secretary of State is satisfied that a Commissioner has been absent from three consecutive meetings of the Commission without the consent of the Commission, or has become bankrupt or made an arrangement with his creditors, or is incapacitated by physical or mental illness, or is otherwise unable or unfit to discharge the function of a Commissioner, Our Secretary of State may after consulting Our National Assembly for Wales remove him from his office:
AND We do further ordain that if a person present at a meeting has any financial interest in any matter which is the subject of consideration at that meeting he shall as soon as practicable after the commencement of the meeting disclose the fact and shall not, without the consent of other Commissioners present at the meeting, take part in the consideration of or vote on any question with respect to it: this our Commission may act notwithstanding a vacancy amongst its Commissioners: the validity of any proceedings of this Our Commission shall not, be affected by any defect in the appointment of all or any of the Commissioners: subject as provided by this Our Warrant, the Commission may regulate its own procedure:
AND for the better effecting the purposes of this Our Commission, We do by these Presents give and grant you full power to call on persons with information likely to be needed for the National Monuments Record of Wales: to have access to or call for any books, documents, registers and records as may afford you the fullest information on the subject: to make enquiries about any premises by all other lawful ways and means whatsoever: to publish, by means of an annual report, progress made and activities undertaken, to promote or publish or assist in publishing information: to receive and spend money received from Our National Assembly for Wales, subject to any conditions that it may from time to time impose: and to do all such other things as shall further the attainment of the purposes of this Our Commission (including in appropriate circumstances the grant-aiding of third parties):
AND We do by these Presents will and ordain that all property, rights and liabilities of Our Commission appointed under the 1992 Warrant and subsequent Warrants are hereby transferred to Our Commission appointed under this Warrant: and any agreement, transaction or other thing which has been made, effected or done by or in relation to the Commission appointed under previous Warrants, shall henceforth have effect as if made, effected or done by Our Commission appointed under this Warrant:
AND We do further ordain that anything done or being done (including anything done or being done under any enactment) by or relation to Our Commission appointed under previous Warrants before the date of signing of this Warrant shall, so far as is required for continuing its effect as if done by or in relation to Our Commission appointed under this Warrant: and any reference in any enactment or other document whatsoever to the Commission appointed under previous Warrants shall, unless the contrary intention appears, be construed as a reference to Our Commission appointed under this Warrant:
AND We do further ordain that all monies and property received by this Our Commission, including any money received from Our National Assembly for Wales, shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the purposes of Our Commission: and unless so directed by Our National Assembly for Wales, no payment shall be made by the Commission to the Commissioners except repayment of reasonable and proper out of pocket expenses:
AND We do authorise and empower you to appoint, with the approval of Our National Assembly for Wales, a Secretary upon such terms as to remuneration, gratuities and otherwise as you with such approval think fit, and such other officers upon such terms as to remuneration, gratuities and otherwise as you think fit: provided always that such remuneration or other entitlement shall be in accordance with the terms approved by Our National Assembly for Wales:
AND We do by these Presents further ordain that anything authorised or required to be done under this Warrant by Our Commission may be done by any Commissioner or officer of Our Commission who is authorised (generally or specifically) for that purpose by the Commission: and every Commissioner and officer of Our Commission shall be indemnified against all costs and expenses and losses for which he may become liable by reason of any act or thing done by him in the proper discharge of his office or duty:
AND We do hereby for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, grant and declare that this Our Warrant or the enrolment thereof shall be in all things valid and effectual in law according to the true intent and meaning of the same and shall be taken, construed and adjudged in the most favourable and beneficial sense and for the best advantage of this Our Commission, in Our Courts of Record as well as elsewhere, notwithstanding any non-recital, mis-recital, uncertainty or imperfection in this Our Warrant:
AND We do by these Presents will and ordain that this Our Commission shall continue to full force and virtue, and that you, Our said Commissioners, or any five or more of you, may from time to time proceed in the execution thereof, and of every matter and thing therein continued, although the same be not continued from time to time by adjournment:
AND We do further ordain that you, or any five or more of you, shall report periodically on your proceedings under this Our Commission to Our National Assembly for Wales at such times and in such manner as might be directed.
Given at Our Court at: Buckingham Palace;
the 12th day of July 2000;
In the Forty-ninth Year of Our Reign.
By Her Majesty’s Command.
