Electing a council chair

Question

At our AM this week we proposed and  seconded a cllr for chair, but didn't actually then vote. (One other cllr was proposed but not seconded.) Was that person then legally the  chair, or do we have to go through the procedure properly next time. Of course, the Clerk might have intervened to ensure we did vote, but that didn't happen.

Answer 1

If there was only 1 valid candidate then a vote might be considered nugatory but that is not the defining point of procedure which determines the role. 

Signing the acceptance of office at that meeting or at a later time as agreed at that meeting is the defining point. 

If the acceptance of office was not signed at the time AND there was no other specific time agreed for the signature by that meeting then you don’t have a council chair. 

Para 83(4) refers:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1972/70/section/83

Answer 2

The election of a chair is mandatory requirement at the annual meeting of town and parish councils and should be the first item of business. There is no statutory process or requirement for nominations but your council's Standing Orders should specify what this is but if they don't then any councillor can stand for election as Chairman at the Annual Parish Council Meeting without notice or nomination by another.The elected chair is also required to sign a declaration of office. If this doesn't happen they can't serve as chair.