31.— (1) Every local authority shall, in every election year, at a meeting held within 6 weeks of the local elections concerned, elect such number of members of the education and training board as the local authority concerned is entitled under section 30 to so elect.

(2) Every education and training board shall, subject to subsection (3), in every election year, appoint a date for the first meeting of the board after the local elections concerned (in this Act referred to as a “post election meeting”).

(3) A date appointed under subsection (2) shall be at least 2 months and not more than 3 months after the date of the local elections concerned.

(4) Where a post election meeting of an education and training board is for any reason (including a quorum not being present) not held on the day appointed under subsection (2) the chief executive shall as soon as may be summon a meeting of such board for a date which appears to him or her to be the earliest convenient date for the purpose and the meeting held in pursuance of such summons shall be deemed to be, for all purposes, a post election meeting.

(5)(a) At the post election meeting of an education and training board the members of the board referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of section 30(1) shall—

(i) for the purpose of subsection (1)(c) of that section, appoint 2 members in accordance with subsection (10) of that section, and

(ii) fix a date for the next meeting of the board.

(b) No business shall be conducted at the post election meeting of an education and training board other than that specified in paragraph (a).

(6) The term of office of every member of an education and training board referred to in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of section 30(1) shall commence on the date of the post election meeting of the education and training board concerned.

(7)(a) At the next meeting after the post election meeting of an education and training board the members referred to in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of section 30(1) shall—

(i) appoint 5 members in accordance with section 30(11)(b) and the term of office of those members shall commence on the date of that meeting, and

(ii) fix a date for the next meeting of the board.

(b) No business shall be conducted at the meeting referred to in paragraph (a) other than the business specified in that paragraph.

(8) A member of an education and training board shall hold office for a term ending on the date of the next post election meeting of the board.