Positions of responsibility in new councils during the transitional period
6.—(1) A new council shall hold its first annual meeting within 21 days from the election day.
(2) At the meeting held under paragraph (1), Schedule 1 to the 2014 Act and paragraph (4) shall apply to the filling of positions of responsibility for the term ending 31st March 2015.
(3) A new council shall appoint a presiding councillor and deputy presiding councillor to chair council meetings during the transitional period.
(4) For the purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2) —
(a)references in local government legislation to the “chair of the council” and “deputy chair of the council” shall mean the “presiding councillor of the new council” and “deputy presiding councillor of the new council”; and
(b)section 6(1)(f) and section 6(4) of the 2014 Act shall not apply, except in relation to–
(i)nominations made in accordance with section 103(4) of the 2014 Act; and
(ii)appointments made in accordance with paragraph 3 of Schedule 1 paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 to the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2011(1); and
(iii)appointments made in accordance with paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 to the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2011.
(5) A new council shall hold a further annual meeting during the transitional period for the purposes of filling of positions of responsibility for the term beginning on 1st April 2015.
(6) The meeting referred to at paragraph (5) shall be treated as if it were the first meeting after the election day.
(7) Paragraph 1(1) and (2) of Schedule 5 to the 2014 Act shall not apply during 2015 in respect of the annual meeting of a new council.