Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994

4 Convener and depute convener

(1) The council of each local government area shall elect a convener from among the councillors.

(2) A council may elect a member of the council to be depute convener.

(3) Subject to the provisions of this section and of Schedule 2 to this Act, the standing orders of a council may make provision for—

(a) the duration of the term of office (which may not extend beyond the next ordinary election of the council); and

(b) the procedure for early removal from office,

of the convener and depute convener.

(4) The election of the convener shall be the first business transacted at the first meeting of the council held after an ordinary election of councillors and at that meeting, until the convener is elected, the returning officer or, failing him, such councillor as may be selected by the meeting shall preside.

(5) A person holding the office of convener or depute convener shall be eligible for re-election but shall cease to hold office upon ceasing to be a councillor.

(6) On a casual vacancy occurring in the office of convener, an election to fill the vacancy shall be held as soon as practicable by the council at a meeting of the council the notice of which specifies the filling of the vacancy as an item of business, and the depute convener or, failing him, a councillor selected by the meeting shall preside.

(7) The convener of each of the councils of the cities of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow shall, with effect from 1st April 1996, be known by the title of “Lord Provost”, and the convener of each other council shall be known by such title as that council may decide:

Provided that no such other council may, without the consent of the Secretary of State, decide that their convener shall be known by the title of “Lord Provost”.

(8) A council may pay the convener and depute convener, for the purpose of enabling each of them to meet the expenses of his office, such allowance as the council think reasonable.