In an election year, the annual meeting of the Council shall be held on or within 14 days following the day on which the councillors elected take office.
In a year which is not an election year, the annual meeting of the Council shall be held on such day in May as the Council decides.
If no other time is fixed, the annual meeting of the Council shall take place at 6pm.
In addition to the annual meeting of the Council, at least three other ordinary meetings shall be held in each year on such dates and times as the Council decides.
The first business conducted at the annual meeting of the Council shall be the election of the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Council.
The Chair of the Council, unless he has resigned or becomes disqualified, shall continue in office and preside at the annual meeting until his successor is elected at the next annual meeting of the Council.
The Vice-Chair of the Council, unless he resigns or becomes disqualified, shall hold office until immediately after the election of the Chair of the Council at the next annual meeting of the Council.
In an election year, if the current Chair of the Council has not been re-elected as a member of the Council, he shall preside at the annual meeting until a successor Chair of the Council has been elected. The current Chair of the Council shall not have an original vote in respect of the election of the new Chair of the Council but shall give a casting vote in the case of an equality of votes.
In an election year, if the current Chair of the Council has been re-elected as a member of the Council, he shall preside at the annual meeting until a new Chair of the Council has been elected. He may exercise an original vote in respect of the election of the new Chair of the Council and shall give a casting vote in the case of an equality of votes.
Following the election of the Chair of the Council and Vice-Chair of the Council at the annual meeting, the business shall include:
In an election year, delivery by the Chair of the Council and councillors of their acceptance of office forms unless the Council resolves for this to be done at a later date. In a year which is not an election year, delivery by the Chair of the Council of his acceptance of office form unless the Council resolves for this to be done at a later date;
Confirmation of the accuracy of the minutes of the last meeting of the Council;
Receipt of the minutes of the last meeting of a committee;
Consideration of the recommendations made by a committee;
Review of delegation arrangements to committees, sub-committees, staff and other local authorities;
Review of the terms of reference for committees;
Appointment of members to existing committees;
Appointment of any new committees in accordance with SO4;
Review and adoption of appropriate standing orders and financial regulations;
Review of arrangements (including legal agreements) with other local authorities, not-for-profit bodies and businesses.
Review of representation on or work with external bodies and arrangements for reporting back;
In an election year, to make arrangements with a view to the Council becoming eligible to exercise the general power of competence in the future;
Review of inventory of land and other assets including buildings and office equipment;
Confirmation of arrangements for insurance cover in respect of all insurable risks;
Review of the Council's and/or staff subscriptions to other bodies;
Review of the Council's complaints procedure;
Review of the Council's policies, procedures and practices in respect of its obligations under freedom of information and data protection legislation [Note: see also SOs 11, 20 and 21];
Review of the Council's policy for dealing with the press/media;
Review of the Council's employment policies and procedures;
Review of the Council's expenditure incurred under s.137 of the Local Government Act 1972 or the general power of competence.
Determining the time and place of ordinary meetings of the Council up to and including the next annual meeting of the Council.
