Chapter 29:15 URBAN COUNCILS ACT (c) all the questions coming or arising before that meeting shall be decided by a resolution passed by a majority of the votes cast and, in the event of an equality of votes, the mayor shall have a casting vote in addition to a deliberative vote. (3) The mayor may, at any time, and at the request in writing of not less than one-third of the total membership of the council or of six councillors, whichever is the less, shall, within fourteen days of such request, call a special meeting of the council. (4) Written notice of any special meeting called in terms of subsection (3) shall be sent to each councillor at least twenty-four hours before the meeting and shall specify the object of the meeting, and no matters, other than those specified in that notice, shall be discussed at that special meeting. (5) Meetings of a council shall be held— (a) in the case of an ordinary meeting, at such time and place as the council may determine; (b) in the case of a special meeting, at such time and place as the mayor may determine: Provided that no meeting of the council shall commence before half-past four o’clock in the afternoon unless— (a) at least two-thirds of the total membership of the council have agreed that the meeting may commence earlier; or (b) in view of exceptional circumstances, the mayor has directed that the meeting should commence earlier. (6) Save as otherwise provided in this Act or in any other law, all acts, matters or things authorized or required to be done by a council may be decided by a majority of councillors voting at a meeting of the council at which a quorum is present. 85 Quorum at meetings of council (1) One-third of the total membership of a council, together with one other councillor, shall form a quorum at a meeting of the council. (2) In the case of a council the total membership of which is not an integral multiple of three, the reference in subsection (1) to one-third shall be construed as a reference to one-third of the number next above that of such total membership which is an integral multiple of three. 86 Validity of decisions and acts of council or committee (1) No proceedings of a council or of any committee shall be invalid or illegal solely on account of a vacancy in the membership of the council of committee, as the case may be, at the time of such proceedings. (2) No proceedings of a council or any committee and no action taken by any person acting as mayor, chairman, councillor, town clerk, treasurer or auditor, as the case may be, shall be invalid or illegal solely on account of some defect in the election, appointment or qualification of any such person. 87 Meetings open to the public (1) Subject to subsection (2), every meeting of a council shall be open to the public and the Press. (2) If at any meeting a council considers that any matter to be discussed at that meeting can be more conveniently and advantageously discussed in private, the council may, subject to subsection (4) of section three hundred and seven, resolve itself into committee and exclude the public and the Press, and any resolution adopted whilst in committee shall have full effect as a resolution of the council: Provided that the council in committee may invite representatives of any authority or board concerned with local government functions to attend meetings of the council in committee as observers. 88 Minutes of proceedings (1) The chamber secretary, in the case of a municipal council, and the secretary, in any other case, shall keep or cause to be kept minutes in the English language of all proceedings of the council and of the council’s committees, and shall cause to be recorded in the minutes the names of the chairman and of all councillors or members attending the meeting. 30