Article 6 - The leader of the Council
6.1 Apointment and Removal of Leader and Deputy Leader
The Council shall at its Annual Meeting appoint a Leader and a Deputy Leader for a period of one year. If the Council fails to elect the Leader at the relevant Annual Meeting, the Leader is to be elected at a subsequent meeting.
The Leader, and/or the Deputy Leader may be removed from office by resolution of the Council.
Where there is a vacancy in the office of Leader, the Deputy Leader will assume the responsibilities of the Leader until a new Leader is appointed at an ordinary meeting of the Council. Where both the Leader and Deputy Leader cease to hold office at the same time, the Ceremonial Mayor shall call a meeting of the Full Council as soon as possible, to appoint a new Leader and Deputy Leader
6.2 Role and Functions
The Leader will carry out the following roles:
- (a) be the political Leader of the Authority and act as the Authority’s principal public spokesperson;
- (b) act for the benefit of all the Borough’s citizens and other interested persons and stakeholders;
- (c) give the overall policy direction to the Authority and lead with the Chairs of the Authority’s Committees and Sub-Committees, the implementation of policies, budgets and strategies approved by Full Council;
- (d) represent the interests of the Authority and its community (residents and other stakeholders) at regional, national and international levels;
- (e) be the Chair of the Authority’s Finance and Corporate Affairs Committee and Constitution Committee
- (f) provide policy direction and progress the Full Council’s corporate objectives with Committee Chairs, the Chief Executive and Chief Officers, the Leaders of other political groups within the Authority, partners and other stakeholders;
- (g) maintain professional working relationships and mutual respect with Elected Members and Officers;
- (h) attend and participate in such civic and ceremonial functions and duties as determined by Full Council;
- (i) To chair (or nominate substitute to chair) meetings of the Parish Liaison Meeting with the Chief Executive and the Chairs/Vice Chairs of the Parish Councils on a quarterly basis.
6.3 The Leader as an Elected Member of the Authority:
- (a) subject to the same rules about qualification and disqualification as any other Elected Member. As the Authority operates a Committee system under the Local Government Act 1972, the Localism Act 2011 and regulations made thereunder, the Leader has no formal legal powers and duties vested in him or her under the Local Government Act 1972 or the Local Government Act 2000.
- (b) Holds a significant role within the Authority as the main political spokesperson and the focus of policy direction. Hence, the Leader is the Chair of the Finance and Corporate Affairs Committee, which has responsibility for the development and interpretation of the Authority’s broad policies and its finances.
- (c) Must together with all Elected (and Co-opted) Members adhere to the rules about disclosure of registerable and non-registerable personal interests to comply with the Council’s Code of Conduct as set out within Part 5 of this Constitution.
- (d) Where the Leader is a member of a political group, will be taken into account when calculating seat allocations on Committees and Sub- Committees of which he/she is a Member. This ensures Committees and Sub-Committees reflect the political composition of Full Council as a whole in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. For further information on Political Balance see the Guidance Note – Political Balance at Part 5.
- (e) Will receive a Special Responsibility Allowance in recognition of the role of Leader and associated role as Chair of the Finance and Corporate Affairs Committee as set out in the Elected Members’ Allowances Scheme as set out within Part 6 of the Constitution.