It is up to the Governing Body or local board to determine the process for selecting an appointee as there is no statutory process. This may include calling for expressions of interest, determining reasonable criteria for any person who wishes to be considered for appointment, selecting an interview panel (which may be the entire Governing Body or local board), interviewing candidates, and deliberating before making a decision.
As there is limited time before a resolution must be made under section 117(3), the Governing Body or local board may need to hold an extraordinary meeting to determine whether it wishes to begin an appointment process and how it will select the candidate.
However, it is equally open for the Governing Body or local board to simply decide to appoint the next highest polling candidate in the relevant ward or local board area, or to adopt any other reasonable process for selecting the appointee. Democracy Services, Local Board Services and Legal Services are available to assist the Governing Body or local board determine an appropriate process.
The Governing Body or a local board must immediately give public notice of the resolution, and the appointment process or criteria if it fills a vacancy under section 117(3) or section
The Governing Body or local board must confirm the appointment by resolution no later than 30 days after the date of this public notice. The appointed person is treated as having been elected to fill the vacancy on the date on which the resolution is made (section 118(2)).
