Article 5 – Chairing the Council

5.01    Role and function of the Chair

The Chair will be elected by the Council at its annual meeting.  The Chair (and, in their absence, the Vice-Chair) will have the following responsibilities:

(a)        to uphold and promote the purposes of the Constitution, and to interpret the Constitution when necessary;

(b)        to preside over meetings of the Council so that its business can be carried out efficiently and with regard to the rights of Councillors and the interests of the community;

(c)        to ensure that the Council meeting is a forum for the debate of matters of concern to the local community and a place at which Members who are not on the Executive are able to hold the Executive to account;

(d)        to promote public involvement in the Council’s activities;

(e)        to represent the Council; and

(f) to perform the ambassadorial role of the Chair by attending such civic and ceremonial functions as the Council and/or the Chair determines appropriate.

Note:  For the year 2024/25, the Chair of the Council is Councillor Roberta Swiers and the Vice-Chair is Councillor George Jabbour.