4.14 A Joint Committee can only do what its constituent authorities authorise it to do. So it can only act within the powers delegated to it and, within each authority's area, within the budget and strategic policy framework approved by that constituent authority.
4.15 A Joint Committee is not a separate legal entity, but merely a mechanism for joint decision-making. As a result, it can take decisions, within the powers delegated to it by the constituent authorities, and can make recommendations to the constituent authorities, but it cannot enter into any arrangements with third parties, cannot enter a contract in its own name, cannot own land or employ staff. Instead it relies on the constituent authorities, or the officers of those authorities, to implement the decisions which it takes.
4.16 As a result, where the Joint Committee is to be responsible for a particular service or project, it is sensible to decide which activities, such as holding land, is to be done by each of the constituent authorities within their own areas, and which activities, such as employing project staff or providing legal, technical or financial support, are to be undertaken by a "lead authority" on behalf of the Joint Committee where this approach is adopted.