UK: England and Wales: conduct of general meetings and the role of the chairman

Judgment was given yesterday by Deputy High Court Judge Lance Ashworth QC in Kaye v Oxford House (Wimbledon) Management Company Ltd [2019] EWHC 2181 (Ch). The decision is an important and interesting one exploring the operation of general meetings and, in particular, the role of the chairman in conducting the business and in closing the meeting. It would also appear to be the first authority to consider the operation of section 303(5) of the Companies Act 2006, which provides that a resolution may be moved at a meeting unless (to quote directly): (a) it would, if passed be ineffective (whether by reason of inconsistency with any enactment or the company's constitution or otherwise), (b) it is defamatory of any person, or (c) it is frivolous or vexatious.

Here is an extract:

It is the duty and function of the chairman to preserve order and to take care that the proceedings are conducted in a proper manner and that the sense of the meeting is properly ascertained with regard to any question which is properly before the meeting. However, he does not have power to stop the meeting at his own will and pleasure ... the chairman is not running the general meeting for his own benefit, but for the benefit of the company as a whole. The chairman must therefore act at all times in good faith and for proper purposes, remembering at all times that the authority to preside over the meeting does not confer dictatorial power" (para. [106]).