Minute with the mayor

I am often asked about what powers the Mayor has, so I thought I might take the opportunity to explain a Councillor’s role.
Councillors (who include the Mayor and Councillors), do not have any authority to act or make decisions as individuals. They are members of an elected body collectively called ‘the Council’ that makes decisions on behalf of a Local Government through a formal meeting process.
Councillors are responsible for strategic vision and planning for the Local Government area to deliver outcomes for the community.
Councillors are not responsible for the day-to-day administration of Council, operational matters or overseeing the works done by Local Government employees. These functions are the responsibility of Council’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
A Councillor cannot direct a Local Government employee to do anything.  However, the Mayor has the authority to direct the CEO in accordance with Council policies and decisions.
The role of each Councillor is to:
   • Represent the current and future interests of residents;
   • Provide leadership and guidance to the community;
   • Facilitate two-way communication between the community and Council officers and employees; and
   • Participate in decision making processes at meetings.
Councillors represent the community’s interests in many ways. They can pass on an elector’s views, support initiatives and report complaints and problems they perceive, by informing the CEO or raising such matters in Council meetings.
People often look to their elected representatives to provide leadership and guidance. This can be done by highlighting directions that could be followed, putting forward options, and presenting arguments or possible solutions to a problem at community forums and Council meetings.
To initiate new policies and activities successfully, a Councillor will often need to gather information and obtain advice. This may be achieved through the Council staff, following an approach to the CEO. Councillors may approach other Senior Executive staff as authorised by the CEO in accordance with the CEO’s guidelines.
However, it should be remembered that while a policy may begin with an individual idea, decisions are not made by the individual Councillor alone. They are made by the whole Council.
The democratic process stipulates that a Councillor must accept the majority decision when the Council votes upon a motion. Consequently, if a Councillor feels strongly about an issue, and does not have a conflict of interest in the matter, he or she should present a well constructed and researched argument during the debate of the motion. If the result of the vote is against the wishes of an individual Councillor, he or she should accept that result graciously. Each Councillor has the right to have their dissent recorded in the minutes.
Councillors have a duty to attend Council meetings to ensure that electors are adequately represented. In recognition of this, under the Local Government Act 2009 a Councillor who is absent from two consecutive ordinary Council meetings without leave being granted by the Council, is automatically disqualified.