f. Role of the Chair

The role of the Chair of a meeting is to keep order and control the meeting in accordance with standing orders.  A Chair can also exercise a second or casting vote in the event of a tie in votes on any question to be decided at the meeting.   For all other matters the status of a Chair is the same as any other councillor.

Councillors and the public present at a meeting are expected to respect the Chair in this respect.  Equally,  the Chair must be fair yet firm. 

Specific responsibilities for the Chair of a meeting include:

• formally open meetings

• consider if there are any procedural obstacle to the meeting proceeding

• ensuring draft minutes of a previous meeting are approved by the meeting

• order debate on motions

• deciding points of order and other incidental questions

• controlling disorderly or disruptive behaviour at the meeting

• ensuring the business on the agenda is dealt with

• exercising their casting vote when votes are tied for the election of the Chair at the annual meeting (mandatory).

• exercise a casting vote when votes are tied in other situations

• declaring the result of a vote

• temporarily suspending or adjourning a meeting if necessary

• closing a meeting after the business has been concluded

Before the meeting, the Chair will have consulted with the Proper Officer before finalising the agenda and this is usually covered in a council's standing orders.   The Chair must be familiar with standing orders about the formality and duration of contributions from councillors during the debate of a motion.  Even during a heated debate, it is the responsibility of the Chair to ensure that order is kept and that the meeting gets through the business on the agenda. 

If present, the Chair MUST preside at a meeting of the Council. In their absence, the Vice-Chair must preside, or in the absence of both, the councillors present must select someone from themselves to preside over the meeting.