Subsection 2: The Conseil des ventes volontaires de meubles aux enchères publiques.

The Conseil des Maisons de Vente meets when convened by its Chairman. The meeting is convened by right when the Government Commissioner or four members of the Council request it. The agenda is set by the Chairman. The Government Commissioner or four members of the Board may ask that any matter falling within the Board’s remit be included on the agenda. The agenda is set by the Chairman.

The Conseil des maisons de vente may only validly deliberate if at least six members are present. When the quorum is not reached on a given agenda, the council validly deliberates regardless of the number of its members after a new convocation covering the same agenda and specifying that no quorum is required.

The Conseil des Maisons de Vente draws up its own internal regulations, which set out the conditions under which it operates and the organisation of its departments. These rules also define the conditions under which the Council may appoint some of its members to conduct the hearings and interviews provided for in article R. 321-29. The Council’s rules of procedure are communicated to the Minister for Justice.

If a member of the Conseil des maisons de vente, a qualified person appointed or a representative of the profession elected, is unable to attend or resigns, he or she is replaced by his or her alternate from the date on which the inability to attend or the resignation is notified. In the event of a vacancy in the seat of an appointed member and his alternate, they shall be…

The Government Commissioner referred to in Article L. 321-23-1 is appointed by order of the Minister of Justice. He participates in the meetings of the Board in an advisory capacity, subject to the specific provisions laid down in disciplinary matters in the second paragraph of Article R. 321-48. It shall exercise its powers in disciplinary matters under the conditions set out in Articles R. 321-45 to R. 321-45-3 and R….

Upon request, the Government Commissioner shall be provided, on behalf of the Conseil des Maisons de Vente, with the documents required to be kept by Article L. 561-12 of the Monetary and Financial Code.

For the application of the first paragraph of article L. 321-19, operators of voluntary sales of furniture by public auction declare to the Conseil des maisons de vente, each year before 31 March, the gross fees received during the previous year for sales organised on national territory. These declarations shall be accompanied by supporting documents. When an operator of voluntary sales by public auction has been in business for less…

The Conseil des maisons de vente proposes to the Minister of Justice the rate of the annual contribution of voluntary sales operators in accordance with Article L. 321-19.

The Conseil des maisons de vente adopts its budget, each year, before 31 December, on the proposal of the Chairman. The chairman implements the budget. The Council of auction houses deliberates on the annual budget and its amendments during the year, as well as on the financial accounts and the allocation of results. These deliberations are forwarded to the Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice, within fifteen days of…

An Audit Committee is established within the Council of Sales Houses for the purpose of ensuring the proper implementation of the budget. The Audit Committee shall consist of three members of the Council elected by the Council. On a proposal from the Chairman, the Board appoints the Chairman of the Audit Committee by a majority of its members. The Government Commissioner is notified of Audit Committee meetings. At his request,…