95Procedure at meeting

95 Procedure at meeting (1) The chairperson of a meeting of a council is: (a) if the principal member is present – the principal member; or (b) if the principal member is not present but the deputy principal member is present – the deputy principal member; or (c) if neither the principal member nor the deputy principal member is present but an acting principal member is present – the acting principal member; or (d) if neither the principal member nor the deputy principal member is present and there is no acting principal member or the acting principal member is not present – a member chosen, by resolution, by the members present at the meeting to chair the meeting. (2) A quorum at a meeting of a council consists of a majority of the council's members holding office at the time of the meeting. (3) A member who is not physically present at a meeting of a council is taken to be present at the meeting if: (a) the member's attendance at the meeting by means of an audio or audiovisual conferencing system is authorised in accordance with a council resolution establishing a policy for attendance in such a manner; and (b) communication is established by means of the conferencing system, at or around the commencement of the meeting, between the member and the members present at the place appointed for the meeting; and (c) the member has the same or substantially the same opportunity to participate in debate, and to register an opinion, on questions arising for decision as if the member were physically present at the meeting.