A principal council may determine to have a presiding member.
A presiding member is elected by the principal council from among the councillors.
The principal council may determine—
(a) the functions of the presiding member, and
(b) the term of office of the member (subject to the limits in subsection (6)).
The functions of the presiding member may, in particular, include any function of the chairman of the principal council in relation to its meetings and proceedings.
A member of the executive of a principal council , or an assistant to the executive, may not be elected as its presiding member.
A presiding member is to continue in office until the occurrence of—
(a) the presiding member's resignation or disqualification,
(b) a successor becoming entitled to act as presiding member,
(c) the principal council determining not to have an office of presiding member, or
(d) an ordinary council election under section 26.