can members lobby fellow councillors to support their nomination for chairman.

Question

We need to appoint a new chair at out next meeting as our present chair has stood down.  It has been suggested that nominees prepare a statement of their suitability to be circulated with the agenda for the meeting.
Is it in order to do that and therefore for nominees to be known prior to the meeting.

Answer 1

Yes, it is perfectly reasonable for councillors to know who they are electing. However unless it is your standing orders, it cannot be made a requirement to do so.

The Chairman is elected by a show of hands unless a ballot is requested by any councillor.

Remember, the item must be chaired by either the outgoing chairman or a councillor elected for that sole purpose (have a chat before the meeting to decide on someone to fulfil that temporary role - it prevents mums and errs in the meeting itself), they will chair the election process until a chair is elected. The Clerk MUST NOT Chair any part of the meeting.