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CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY

Title: ELECTION OF CONVENER AND DEPUTY 
CONVENER 

Prepared by: JANE HOPE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE 

Purpose 
a) To set out the process for election of Convener and Deputy Convener;
b) To remind Members that nominations will be sought at the meeting itself. Members
who are absent may be nominated provided they have indicated to the Convener their 
consent to being nominated. 

Recommendations 
That the Board: 
• follow the process as set out in standing orders already approved; 
• agree that any vote should be by secret ballot. 

Executive Summary 
The election of the current Convener and Deputy Convener took place at the CNPA’s first 
meeting on 15 April 2003, with the agreement that those first terms of office would last for 18 
months. The Board subsequently agreed Standing Orders which set out a process for future 
elections of Convener and Deputy Convener, with that process to take place at the second-last 
CNPA meeting before the terms of office expired. The Board agreed on 7 May 2004 that 10 
September was the appropriate meeting for those second elections. 
The process of election of Convener is to be conducted by the Proper Officer (currently the 
Chief Executive). 


ELECTION OF CONVENER AND DEPUTY CONVENER 
Process of Election - Extract from Standing Orders 

1. The following extract from the CNPA’s standing orders sets out the process of election: 

2. In accordance with schedule 1, paragraph 11, of the Act, the board elects the Convener 
and Deputy Convener from among its number. At the second-last CNPA meeting before 
the term of office of a current Convener expires, election of the next convener shall take 
place. The process of election for convener shall be conducted by the proper officer. The 
process of election will be as follows: 
a) The chair will seek nominations from members of the NPA at the meeting. Any 
member may propose another NPA member as convener, and a third member 
must second the nomination for it to be valid. 

b) Each candidate who has a valid nomination will be asked if they wish to make a 
short statement to the meeting. 

c) Members who are absent from the meeting may be put forward for election, 
provided they have indicated to the convener their consent to being nominated. A 
statement by such a candidate may be circulated at the meeting. 

d) Election will be by absolute majority, as follows: 
• Members may only cast one vote in each round of voting; 
• Only Members who are present may vote; 
• Once the first set of votes has been cast, the candidate with the lowest 
number of votes will be excluded; 
• A fresh vote will be taken on the remaining candidates where again each 
member can only cast one vote for the candidate of their choice; again 
the candidate with the lowest number of votes will be excluded. 
• This process will continue until one candidate emerges with an absolute 
majority of the votes cast by those members present and voting. 
• Where there is an equality of votes among those candidate who have 
least votes, then a decision on who is to be excluded will be determined 
by lot. 
• If it is the case that there is only one candidate for either position, then 
that person will be declared elected. 

3. The duration of the office of Convener and Deputy Convener will be 3 years (unless the 
member concerned ceases to be a Member of the NPA, or resigns from the position of 
Convener/Deputy Convener before the end of the period). 

4. For cases in which a Convener/Deputy Convener resigns or ceases to be a Member, the 
above process will apply, as the first item of business, at the next board meeting following 
the vacancy arising. 

5. The above process in paragraphs 4-5 will also apply to the election of Deputy Convener, 
which shall take place after the election of Convener if both posts are to be decided at the 
same meeting. 

Additional Considerations 
6. Your attention is drawn to the fact that the current Convener and Deputy Convener were 
appointed for 18 months - their terms of office therefore expire on 15 October 2004. The 
Convener and Deputy Convener elected on 10 September will hold office for 3 years, 
running from 15 October 2004 to 15 October 2007 (unless in that period they cease to be 
CNPA Members or resign as Convener/Deputy Convener). 

7. I also note that the standing orders are silent on whether or not a vote should be by secret 
ballot or by show of hands. I propose, in keeping with the first elections on 15 April 
2004, that the vote should be by secret ballot. 
Jane Hope 
30 August 2004 
janehope@cairngorms.co.uk