Town Council
The Role of the Business Chair
The Business Chair is an essential statutory role responsible for guiding Council activities and ensuring lawful, effective decision-making at Full Council meetings.
Statutory Requirement
Pursuant to section 15 (2) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Council shall elect a Chair at the Annual Meeting of the Council in May.
The council is not lawfully constituted without a Chair.
Key Responsibilities
In accordance with standing orders, the Chair is responsible for ensuring that effective and lawful decisions are taken at meetings of the Council. Assisted by the Clerk (Executive Officer), the Chair guides activities by managing the meetings of the Full Council.
Distinct from Town Mayor
The Council does not adopt the Town Mayor model, which is a legal entitlement for the Chair of a Town Council under Section 245 (6) of the Local Government Act 1972.
Instead, the Council appoints a separate Civic Head and Deputy Civic Head by resolution of the Council at the Annual Meeting in May to handle civic and ceremonial duties.
