The Countryside Access (Local Access Forums) (Wales) Regulations 2001

Appointment of Chair and Deputy Chair

12.—(1) The Secretary must—

(a) at the first meeting of the forum held after the meeting at which the appointment of all members of the forum takes effect (whether upon establishment of the forum or upon the appointment of members after the membership of all members ceases under regulation 4(3)), ensure that the first item of business to be conducted is the election of the Chair and Deputy Chair; and

(b) on a subsequent vacancy in the post of Chair or Deputy Chair, ensure that the first item of business to be conducted at the next meeting of the forum is the election of a Chair and/or Deputy Chair, as required.

(2) The Chair and Deputy Chair shall be members of the forum to which they are to be elected Chair and Deputy Chair and shall be elected by the other members of the forum by secret ballot.

(3) The Secretary must preside at any meeting of the forum until the Chair and Deputy Chair have been elected and must conduct the election of the Chair and Deputy Chair.

(4) If the result of the first or any subsequent ballot is that a candidate receives the votes of more than one-half of the members voting the Secretary must declare that person elected.

(5) If the result of the first or any subsequent ballot is that no candidate receives the votes of more than one-half of the members voting the Secretary must conduct a further ballot excluding the candidate who received the lowest number of votes at the previous ballot.

(6) In the event that on any ballot there is an equality of votes between two candidates and the number of votes which they each receive is less than that received by any other candidate the Secretary must determine by lot which of them is to be excluded from any further ballot.