Role of Vice Chair

Question

Is there a formal statement of the role of a Vice-chair of a Parish Council?

Answer 1

To assume the role of chairman when the incumbent is absent or unavailable for whatever reason.

Answer 2

As stated, and alleviates the necessity for the council to vote in a chair in their absence. It would be conducive to the smooth running of council for the vice chair to included "in the loop" on information privy to the chair

Answer 3

There no real formal statement/guidance published other than whatever your council choses to produce internally (some have role-holder related policy attempting to define respective roles). Indeed its not role that is legally required with some opting to only elect a Chair (in absence simply electing someone at the meeting to preside in same way you would if both Chair & Vice absent). My personal take its a bit like the US Vice President in in that each one can be very different and you can really make it what you want within reason. Some are very involved whereas some are quite passive. Some are ready to step up at moments notice and provide that safety net should Chair be incapacitated/unavailable. Some constantly help and actively share workload. I think so many variables and what works in one place does not always work elsewhere. On a vaguely related note I know it caused some controversy locally but I made very clear I did not expect nor want Vice to be always "aligned" with me. I wanted and indeed encouraged healthy debate and had no issue with him voting which ever way he wanted. For some reason some got quite het up about it.