CITIZEN TO COUNCILLOR CANDIDATE INFORMATION SESSION
What is expected of a Councillor? Holding public office such as Councillor is a special privilege, where you represent your citizens in what can be described as the “Parliament of Your Shire”. It is an important role that needs to be viewed as such; as citizens we rightly have high expectations of Councillors and the Council organisation.
Council (Councillor) Roles People ask Councillors to represent them on particular issues Democratic Representation Formal role under P&E Act in determining Duty to Council and Board of Planning planning applications its staff, and the Authority Directors and managing the community at large effectiveness of the Planning Scheme All roles serve community interest
Who is the Customer? An important principle for Councillors is serving the community. This focus has a number of dimensions that Councillors need to keep in mind. Customer or Citizen Individual and Community Today and Tomorrow Commercial Relationships Council Legal Liability
CEO and Councillors Different but interdependent roles: - Councillors need organisation to deliver outcomes - CEO needs support from Council to do just that Councillors Chief Executive Community Organisation
Strategic Direction LG Act Review 10 Year Plan - Community Plan - Asset Plan - Financial Plan 4 Year Council Plan (cross-term timing) Annual Budget
Community Expectations Honest and ethical 1. Competent and responsible 2. Open and accountable 3. Communication skills 4. Consider whole municipality 5. Able to work as a team 6. Willing to listen and learn 7. Challenging yet constructive 8. Underpinned by Local Governm ent Act and Com m on Law
Councillor Advice About serving the community 1. Not based on any single issue 2. Stay at strategic level; leave operations to CEO 3. Officers are in their workplace 4. Hold other Councillors accountable; difficult for CEO 5. Seek to understand before over committing 6. Raise issues in private, support in public 7. Help the CEO to build the Council we all need 8. Being a Councillor is a rich and rew arding experience
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