PROCEDURE FOR REMOVING AND REPLACING THE LEADER OF THE COUNCIL
1. The Leader of the Council is elected by the Council at the first Annual Meeting following the quadrennial election of Councillors for a term of four years, and can only be removed by resolution of the full Council in the circumstances set out below.
2. The Council may only consider removing the Leader:
(a) on a motion of which notice has been given as in paragraphs 6 to 8 below; or
(b) in the circumstances described in paragraphs 9 to 11 below.
3. When voting on a motion to remove the Leader, a quorum of the Council is at least three quarters of the total number of members of the Council.
4. A Council resolution to remove the Leader shall not have the effect of removing the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holders. Portfolio Holders shall continue in their roles pending decisions by the newly elected Leader under paragraph 12 below.
5. If the Council resolves to remove the Leader, it may elect a new Leader at the same Council meeting as its next item of business. If it does not do so, the Deputy Leader shall assume all the powers and duties of Leader until the Council elects a new Leader.
Notice of motion to remove Leader
6. A motion to remove the Leader shall be:
a) given in writing; and
b) signed by at least one half of the total number of Council members; and
c) received by the Chief Executive’s office; and
d) state why the signatories consider the Leader should be removed.
7. If the motion is received by the Chief Executive less than 15 clear working days before the next programmed Council meeting:
the motion shall be considered at the next programmed Council meeting.
8. If the motion is received by the Chief Executive 15 or more clear working days before the next programmed Council meeting:
the Chief Executive shall, within 5 working days of receiving the motion, summon a special Council meeting for the purpose of considering the motion. No other business shall be conducted at that meeting, other than election of a new Leader if the motion succeeds. The special meeting shall take place within 10 working days of the date of the summons.
9. Paragraphs 10 to 11 apply if:
a) the Leader is a member of the majority political Group (“the Leader’s political group”) represented on the Council; and
b) that political group loses its overall majority on the Council more than 15 working days before the date of the quadrennial election of Councillors.
10. If a programmed meeting of the Council is due to take place within less than 15 clear working days after the date on which the Leader’s political group loses its overall majority, election of the Leader shall be the first item of business at the next programmed Council meeting.
11. If a programmed meeting of the Council is not due to take place within less than 15 clear working days after the date on which the Leader’s political group loses its overall majority, the Chief Executive shall, within 5 working days of the day on which the Leader’s political group loses its overall majority, summon a special Council meeting for the purpose of electing a Leader. No other business shall be conducted at that meeting. The special meeting shall take place within 10 working days of the date of the summons.
12. A new Leader elected under this procedure shall, within 5 working days of their election:
a) appoint a Deputy Leader,
b) decide the content of Portfolios and appoint a Portfolio Holder for each, and
c) inform the Chief Executive of the names of the Deputy Leader, the content of each Portfolio, and the names of the Portfolio Holders.