4.—(1) The Council is to consist of not fewer than 24 and not more than 26 members, of whom—
(a)for each of the Sections, two are to be elected from among themselves by the active graziers on land registered as common land in that Section;
(b)for each of the Section-Groups, one is to be elected from among themselves by the commoners with rights of common over land in that Section-Group and who are not active graziers;
(c)four are to be appointed by the owners of land forming part of the Commons, to represent their interests;
(d)one, being a veterinary surgeon, may be co-opted by the members referred to in sub-paragraphs (a), (b) and (c); and
(e)one further member may be co-opted by the members referred to in sub-paragraphs (a), (b) and (c).
(2) Elections and appointments of members of the Council under paragraph (1)(a) to (c) are first to be held and made before the appointed day.
(3) The members first elected or appointed under paragraph (1)(a) to (c) (unless a member resigns or dies, or Schedule 2 provides differently) are to hold office from the appointed day until the end of February 2020.
(4) Elections and appointments of subsequent members of the Council under paragraph (1)(a) to (c) are to be held or made before the end of February 2020 and in every fourth year after that, to replace those members whose terms of office expire in that year.
(5) Each member so elected or appointed is to hold office (unless the member resigns or dies, or paragraph (6) applies, or Schedule 2 provides differently) for four years from 1st March next following their election or appointment.
(6) A person elected as a member of the Council under paragraph (1)(a) or (b) ceases to be a member of the Council if at any time during the period of membership that person ceases to be eligible for membership.
(7) A person co-opted as a member of the Council under paragraph (1)(d) or (e) is to hold office (unless the member resigns or dies, or Schedule 2 provides differently) from the date on which that person’s co-option has effect until—
(a)the date of expiry of the then current terms of the members of the Council who co-opted that member; or
(b)such earlier date as the members of the Council who co-opted that member may determine.
(8) Schedule 2 (election and appointment of members) has effect.