Purpose of Role:
The Chair will be elected by the Council annually to:
(i) Be the Civic Head of the Council representing the Council as a whole in all civic and ceremonial matters; and
(ii) Preside over meetings of the Council so that its business can be carried out efficiently and with regard to the rights of Councillors and the interests of the Community.
Duties and responsibilities (in addition to those of a Ward Councillor and Chair of a Committee):
Ceremonial Role
(i) The Chair will attend such civic and ceremonial functions as the Council and he/she determines appropriate having regard to criteria determined in consultation with the Leader of the Council for which events require a civic/ceremonial presence.
(ii) To positively promote the Council and the District.
Chairing the Council Meeting
(i) To uphold and promote the purposes of the Council’s Constitution and to interpret the Constitution when necessary.
(ii) To preside over meetings of the Council in an impartial manner.
(iii) To ensure that the Council meeting is a forum for the debate of matters of concern to the local community and the place at which Members who are neither on the Executive nor hold Committee chairs are able to hold the Executive and Committee chairmen to account.
(iv) To promote public involvement in the Council’s activities.
(v) To be the conscience of the Council.
(vii) To be the arbiter in respect of appropriate decisions taken between meetings of Cabinet where the call-in procedure should not apply.