Local Government (Democracy) (Wales) Act 2013

Presiding members

51 Presiding member of principal council

(1) The 1972 Act is amended as follows.

(2) After section 24 (vice-chairman) insert—

“24A Presiding member

(1) A principal council may determine to have a presiding member.

(2) A presiding member is elected by the principal council from among the councillors.

(3) The principal council may determine—

(a) the functions of the presiding member, and

(b) the term of office of the member (subject to the limits in subsection (6)).

(4) The functions of the presiding member may, in particular, include any function of the chairman of the principal council in relation to its meetings and proceedings.

(5) A member of the executive of a principal council may not be elected as its presiding member.

(6) A presiding member is to continue in office until the occurrence of—

(a) the presiding member’s resignation or disqualification,

(b) a successor becoming entitled to act as presiding member,

(c) the principal council determining not to have an office of presiding member, or

(d) an ordinary council election under section 26.

24B Deputy presiding member

(1) The section applies where a principal council have determined to have a presiding member.

(2) The principal council must appoint a member of the council to act as deputy to the presiding member (“the deputy presiding member”).

(3) A member of the executive of a principal council may not be appointed as the deputy presiding member.

(4) A deputy presiding member is to continue in office until the occurrence of—

(a) the deputy presiding member’s resignation or disqualification,

(b) a successor becoming entitled to act as deputy presiding member,

(c) the council determining not to have an office of presiding member, or

(d) an ordinary council election under section 26.

(5) A deputy presiding member may do anything authorised or required to be done by the presiding member.”.

(3) After section 25A insert—

“25B Title of civic chair

(1) This section applies where—

(a) a principal council have determined to have a presiding member under section 24A, and

(b) the chairman of the council is not entitled to the style of “mayor” or “maer”.

(2) The chairman of the council is entitled to the style of “civic chair” or “cadeirydd dinesig”.

(3) The vice-chairman of the council is entitled to the style of ”civic vice-chair” or “dirprwy gadeirydd dinesig”.”.

(4) In section 80(1) (disqualification for election and holding office as member of local authority), in paragraph (a), for “or deputy chairman” substitute “, deputy chairman, presiding member or deputy presiding member”.

(5) In section 83(1) (declaration of acceptance of office) after “vice-chairman,” insert “presiding member, deputy presiding member,”.