Greater London Authority Act 1999

Chair and Deputy Chair of the Assembly

50 Functions

(1) There shall be—

(a) an office of Chair of the London Assembly (“the Chair of the Assembly”); and

(b) an office of Deputy Chair of the London Assembly (“the Deputy Chair of the Assembly”).

(2) The Chair of the Assembly shall have—

(a) the function of chairing meetings of the Assembly; and

(b) such other functions as may be conferred or imposed upon him by or under this Act or any other enactment, whenever passed or made.

(3) Subsection (2)(a) above is subject to any provision made by or under this Act or any other enactment, whenever passed or made, or by the standing orders of the Authority.

(4) The Deputy Chair of the Assembly shall have—

(a) the function of chairing meetings of the Assembly when authorised or required to do so by or under this Act or any other enactment, whenever passed or made, or in accordance with the standing orders of the Authority; and

(b) such other functions as may be conferred or imposed upon him by or under this Act or any other enactment, whenever passed or made.

51 Appointment

(1) The Chair of the Assembly and the Deputy Chair of the Assembly shall each be elected at a meeting of the Assembly.

(2) The Chair of the Assembly and the Deputy Chair of the Assembly must be elected from among the members of the Assembly.

(3) A person must not hold the offices of Chair of the Assembly and Deputy Chair of the Assembly at the same time except as provided by subsection (7) below.

(4) The Deputy Mayor is not eligible to be the Chair of the Assembly or the Deputy Chair of the Assembly.

(5) If the Deputy Chair of the Assembly is elected to fill a vacancy in the office of Chair of the Assembly, a vacancy shall occur in the office of Deputy Chair of the Assembly.

(6) If a vacancy occurs in the office of Chair of the Assembly or Deputy Chair of the Assembly, the first business at the next meeting of the Assembly shall be to fill the vacancy.

(7) If a vacancy occurs in the office of Chair of the Assembly and there is a person who is the Deputy Chair of the Assembly, that person shall (subject to the other provisions of this Act or any other enactment) also be the Chair of the Assembly until such time as the vacancy is filled in accordance with subsection (6) above.

(8) A person elected Chair of the Assembly or Deputy Chair of the Assembly shall not act in that office unless or until he has satisfied in respect of his office as an Assembly member the requirements of section 28(1) above.