ORDER OF SENIORITY

67. ORDER OF SENIORITY

(1) Members shall rank in seniority as follows:-

(a) The Mayor.
(b) The ex-Mayor, if not the Deputy Mayor.
(c) The Deputy Mayor.
(d) Councillors

(2) Councillors rank according to length of uninterrupted service as a Councillor which will include service on the former Bournemouth County Borough Council whether as Alderman or Councillor. If two or more Councillors are being elected on the same day seniority amongst them will be determined in the following sequence:

(a) Councillors who have previously served as Councillors for the Borough but whose service has been interrupted.

(b) Councillors returned unopposed for the maximum term of office.

(c) Councillors elected after a contest for the maximum term of office.

(d) Councillors either returned unopposed or elected after a contest for less than the maximum term of office. Precedence in this group to be taken firstly according to the length of the period for which they were returned unopposed or elected as the case may be, secondly according to whether they were returned unopposed or elected after a contest and thirdly according to ward order.

(3) The words ‘ward order’ means the order of the wards of the Borough placed in accordance with the number of registered local government electors in each ward commencing with the ward with the highest number of such electors. Seniority of Members will not be affected by fluctuations of the numbers of electors subsequent to their election.

(4) The service of a Councillor shall not be deemed to be interrupted by the expiration of his or her term of office if he or she is re-elected not later than the day of such expiration

(5) Nothing in this Rule will affect the order of seniority existing on the day of the adoption of these Rules of Procedure.