So You Are Thinking of Becoming a Local Goverment Councillor?

A booklet has been released by the Department of Local Government, which is available at your Local Council Offices, which details information you need to know when considering running for Council.

Councils provide services to their communities to develop and improve the local infrastructure and to meet the cultural and recreational needs of the people. Although the mix of services varies from Council to Council, typically Councils provide roads, waste removal and public facilities.

A Councils program is set out in its management plan. Every year, after placing a draft management plan on display for at least 28 days, each council adopts a management plan for the next financial year. This important document sets out the activities the council plans to undertake over at least the next three years. It also details councils revenue policy for the next year, ie how it plans to pay for its activities. The revenue policy gives details of councils estimated income and expenditure for the next year, describes the rates, charges and fees it plans to impose, outlines councils pricing policy and announces proposed borrowings. It is very important that Councillors are aware of what they are approving when they adopt the revenue policy in the councils management plan.

Councillors should encourage the General Manager to recommend options for cost effective service delivery and strategies for raising revenue. Similarly, Councillors should make suggestions and ask the General Manager to report on their viability. After the plans adoption, the General Manager must report quarterly to the council on the extent to which the performance targets in the plan have been achieved during that quarter. At the end of the financial year, an Annual Report is prepared on the councils achievements and performance in relation to its management plan.

The Councillors are elected by eligible residents and ratepayers within the community and hold office for four years. The Councillors role is to direct and control the councils affairs in line with the requirements of the Local Government Act.

Council should determine a broad vision for its community, based on an understanding of its demographic, social and cultural characteristics, the needs of the various parts of the community, and in recognition of the range of service, environmental, public health and infrastructure requirements to meet these needs.

As a group, Councillors have statutory powers and responsibilities. Their most important function is to determine council policies and objectives which are consistent with its broader vision for meeting its obligations in serving the needs and aspirations of the whole community. Councillors allocate council resources and monitor the councils performance to ensure that these objectives are being met.

While Councillors provide the strategic direction for their local area through determining council policies and objectives, it is emphasized that the day to day management of the councils organisation, the employment of staff and the implementation of council decisions are functions of the General Manager not Councillors.

Councillors are expected to make every effort to attend all council meetings and all meetings of any committee of which they are members. Any civic office also requires a good deal of reading in preparation for meetings and time to attend council inspections and conferences. Those thinking of standing for election would be well advised to make themselves familiar with the process of debate, which at is best allows everyone to have a say and enables well considered decision making.

Sometimes people stand at local government elections because they have a special interest in one or two issues. A word of caution, Councillors have a responsibility to represent the broad needs and wishes of the whole community, not to be interested in only limited issues or to represent only specific interest group, no matter how valid those groups demands may be.

The commitment required to be an effective Councillor is great and the community expects every Councillor to provide representation in relation to all council activities and responsibilities. Councillors therefore need to become familiar with the whole council area and the important issues affecting the community.

Anyone who is entitled to vote at elections for a council is eligible to stand for civic office as a Councillor. This means that a candidate must be at least 18 years and an Australian Citizen. The candidate must also be a resident or ratepayer of the councils area or an occupier of rateable land in the area.

People disqualified from standing for civic office include those currently serving a prison sentence, people convicted of election or property offences and people prohibited from managing companies. Serving judges, the returning officer for the council concerned and employees of the council concerned are also excluded.

More detailed information is located under the heading About the Council.

Further information can be obtained from the Department of Local Government on 02 97930793.

Or send your request by email to:

Or checking out their website by clicking on the link below:

Or Contact Councils Administration Dept at the Moulamein Office on 03 58875007.

© 2008 Wakool Shire Council
This page: http://www.wakool.local-e.nsw.gov.au/faqs/pages/26428.html