Guide to local government
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What councillors do
Generally the council ...
Specific expectations for councillors include ...
Standing committees
Generally the council:
- sets major policy (including strategic, annual and district plans, long-term financial strategies and funding policies)
- appoints and monitors the performance of the chief executive
- approves major contracts
- determines the council’s committee structure, membership and delegations
- builds iwi relationships
- makes decisions on matters that aren’t delegated to committees or council staff.
Specific expectations for councillors include:
- participating in development of a vision and strategic direction for the wider community
- representing the interests of the citizens of their districts, cities and wards
- providing input into council’s strategies and plans
- consulting with community members
- participating in standing committees and keeping up-to-date on issues
- representing council on external committees
- participating in appointment and performance review of the chief executive
- supporting the mayor and council in promoting the city, district or region
- developing positive working relationships with other councillors and officials to ensure an effective governance process
- developing positive working relationships with counterparts in neighbouring local and regional authorities, identifying opportunities for community/economic development and joint benefits
- being accessible to the community/electors, to assist them resolve problems by directing them to appropriate council officials, and following up as appropriate.
Committees
Most councils delegate responsibility for some of their functions to standing committees. These committees deal with finance and property, planning, community development, works and transport. For instance, Manukau, the third largest and the most ethnically diverse city in New Zealand, has six standing committees:
- Corporate Business Committee
- Economic Development Committee
- Community Development Committee
- Environmental Management Committee
- Strategic Management Committee
- Hearings Committee.
Councillors are appointed to committees. They make decisions on city-wide issues and activities and plan policy on the specific activity or function that the committee has responsibility for.
In addition to council committees, councillors often represent the council in committees and boards for external organisations.
For instance, in Tauranga, councillors are officially involved with:
- Chamber of Commerce
- Creative Communities NZ
- Tauranga Community Arts Council
- Tauranga Regional Ethnic Council
- Tauranga Marina Society
- WBOP Sports Assembly Council
- Priority One
- Mount Maunganui Artificial Reef Charitable Trust Board
- Papamoa Sport and Recreation Trust
- Sport Bay of Plenty
- Tauranga Safer Communities Trust
- Tauranga Civic Art Gallery Trust
- Tauranga District Education Trust.
Councillors also spend a considerable amount of time working in their communities, liaising with community organisations and finding out the concerns of their citizens. Frequently, they will be contacted by people who want them to promote particular policies or argue for improvements in council services