Local Government

in your

Community

• Principal Member (Mayor or Chairperson)• Councillors (from 6 – 21 depending on

size/population of Council)• Some Councils are divided into wards• Elections every 4 years• Elected Council only exercises power as

group• CEO responsible for staff

COUNCIL STRUCTURECOUNCIL STRUCTURE

MAYOR / MAYOR / CHAIRPERSONCHAIRPERSON

The Council’s “first citizen”

Councils have either a Mayor or Chairperson

Mayor - Elected by all voters

Chairperson – Elected by Councillors

Attends many functions on behalf of the Council

Services are voluntary - not paid

Takes control of Council meetings

COUNCILLORSCOUNCILLORS Councillors represent all people in the

Council (and those in their ward) Are elected either by all voters or those in

their ward Vote at Council Meetings on policy, rules

and big issues Provide leadership and reflect views of

the communities they serve Councillors are volunteers - not paid

COUNCIL MEETINGSCOUNCIL MEETINGS Held at least once every month Elected members are required to

attend The public can attend Council

meetings Council meetings are where issues

are discussed and decisions made

COUNCIL(elected members)

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Human Services Environmental Services

Corporate Services City Management

•Recreation•Community Services•Cultural Development

•Research

•Planning•Building/Health

•Operations•Property & Technical

Services

•Technology•Information Management

•Public Relations•Human Resources

•Project Management•Mayoral Functions

ROLE OF ADMINISTRATIONROLE OF ADMINISTRATION Serve the public Implement Council’s policies and act on

decisions Provide roads, footpaths, street cleaning

and lighting, rubbish & recycling collection, health and building control

SERVICES AND FACILITIESSERVICES AND FACILITIES Playgrounds Holiday programs Libraries Recreation centres,

sporting grounds and swimming pools

Roads & footpaths Immunisation

Recycling services Environmental

management Tourism information Youth programs Home assistance for

aged and disabled

“Such as your local library - Less books and magazines, computer and internet services?”

IF THERE WAS IF THERE WAS NONO LOCAL GOVERNMENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT

...There would be less money for many

services

IF THERE WAS IF THERE WAS NONO LOCAL GOVERNMENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT

...There would be no Parks FOR CHILDREN TO PLAY IN

“Cockroaches could be in your food”

...There would be NO FOOD STANDARD INSPECTIONS

IF THERE WAS IF THERE WAS NONO LOCAL GOVERNMENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT

IF THERE WAS IF THERE WAS NONO LOCAL GOVERNMENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT

...There would be NO DOG CONTROL

COMMUNITY ISSUESCOMMUNITY ISSUESCouncils are concerned with what is happening in their community. This means taking an interest in: public transport schools main roads hospitals

development environment safety and security Aboriginal affairs

Councils work closely with State and Federal Governments.

EVERY COUNCIL IS DIFFERENTEVERY COUNCIL IS DIFFERENT

Its community may be young or old The area may be new or well-established It may be an urban (city) or rural (country)

Council The population may be less than 1000 or

more than 100,000

DIFFERENCES MEAN DIFFERENCES MEAN ......A developing Council may need to spend

a large amount of their funds on new roads and services.

More established Councils may be able to provide more community-orientated services.

Councils are important in assisting the activities of community groups in the area

Councils sometimes help with: funding providing facilities training

HELPING THE COMMUNITYHELPING THE COMMUNITY

PLAYING YOUR PARTPLAYING YOUR PART Contact your Council to find out what’s happening in

your area If you would like to see different activities in your

area, let Council know Inform Council whether their programs suit your

needs Report any graffiti or vandalism to the police, this

costs your family and community thousands of dollars

Communities can work with their Council to influence what happens in their area

ELECTIONSELECTIONS Held by postal vote every four years in

November Voting is not compulsory (unlike State and

Federal government elections) A contest only occurs if there are more

nominations received than vacancies available

During their term elected members will make important decisions about your area

ELECTIONSELECTIONS

People over the age of 18 can vote Voting is important because elected

members decide the future of the area and the services that will be provided

Candidates will often have different views on what is best for the area