The Role of a Councillor
Councillors are elected member of the Council. Their role covers many areas, each aimed at satisfying expectations of the local community.
A Councillors is expected to be many things, including:
- representative of the people
- planner and goal setter
- resource manager
- servant to the people
- decision maker
- judge
- lobbyist
- mediator/concilliator
- civic leader
- watchdog
- member of a board of directors
- ombudsman
- communicator
- politician
- advocate
The Councillors are the Board of Directors for the Local Government organisation. They approve Council expenditure; set goals, strategies and policies; cooperate with appointed managers; and decide issues submitted to the Council. Councillors also allocate resources to various Local Government functions, and watch over the efficiency, cost and effectiveness of Council's organisation. They help set priorities for Council both in planning and in execution of its works programs. They must be advocates for the Local Government Area and promote it, and can be called upon to represent Council in inter-government matters. They assist fellow Councillors in deciding matters discussed at meetings, for example finance, law, technical matters and economics. Councillors, like the Mayor, undertake civic duties such as receiving dignitaries and attending civic functions.
Being elected representatives, Councillors are delegates and trustees not only for the people who voted for them, but also for those who did not. They pass on information about Council activities to various sectors of the community and provide input of community attitudes to Council. They often receive petitions from voters, and so Councillors have to make sure they are familiar with the issues involved.
Councillors are expected to show leadership in the community, in the Council, and as private citizens. They must at all times act reasonably, with equity and justice, and must submerge any self interest. They are expected to be active and look to the future. To do all this, Councillors need to keep themselves informed of a wide range of matters, about government, administration, finance, economics and society.
Contact details
Murray Shire Council
03 5884 3302 (ph)
03 5884 3417 (fax)
kmaher@murray.nsw.gov.au
