Preliminary arrangements
12.—(1) The first members appointed by the relevant local authorities specified in the second column of the Schedule shall be appointed by the relevant local authority as soon as reasonably practicable after the date of commencement of this Order, and before such date as Scottish Ministers may specify, and shall hold office until the first meeting of the relevant local authority following the next local authority election.
(2) Scottish Ministers may designate a relevant local authority as responsible for making such arrangements for each authority as may be required prior to, and at, the first meeting of the authority, including making arrangements for that meeting.
(3) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (4), the member appointed under article 3(1) by the relevant local authority designated by Scottish Ministers for each authority under paragraph (2) shall act as convener at the first meeting of that authority until a convener is appointed in accordance with article 4(1).
(4) Where a relevant local authority designated by Scottish Ministers under paragraph (2) is required to appoint more than one member of the authority, the member who shall act as convener for the purposes of paragraph (3) shall be the older or oldest of the members so appointed.
(5) The first meeting of the authority shall take place no later than such date as Scottish Ministers may specify.