The Role of Community Councillors/Community Council
The respective roles of Councillors and employees can be summarised as follows:
Councillors and Officers are servants of the public and they are indispensable to one and other, but their responsibilities are distinct. Councillors are responsible to the electorate and serve only so long as their term of office lasts. Officers are responsible to the council. Their job is to give advice to Councillors and to the council, and to carry out the council’s work under the direction and control of the council and relevant committees.
Community Councillors are elected representatives who volunteer their time freely to work on behalf of local residents.
Councillors have five main areas of work:
All Councillors have the same rights and obligations in their relationship with the Clerk and other employees, regardless of their status or political party, and should be treated equally.
The role of Officers is to give advice and information to Councillors and to implement the policies determined by the Council. In giving such advice to Councillors, and in preparing and presenting reports, it is the responsibility of the Officer to express his/her own professional views and recommendations.
Further information on the role of Councillors and employees can be found within:
Councillors and Officers are servants of the public and they are indispensable to one and other, but their responsibilities are distinct. Councillors are responsible to the electorate and serve only so long as their term of office lasts. Officers are responsible to the council. Their job is to give advice to Councillors and to the council, and to carry out the council’s work under the direction and control of the council and relevant committees.
Community Councillors are elected representatives who volunteer their time freely to work on behalf of local residents.
Councillors have five main areas of work:
- Decision-making: through attending meetings with other elected members, Councillors decide which activities to support, where money should be spent, what services should be delivered and what policies should be implemented;
- Monitoring: Councillors make sure that their decisions lead to efficient and effective services by keeping an eye on how well things are working;
- Scrutiny: Ensuring the public sector works in the interests of residents – protecting their health and well-being.
- Getting involved locally: as local representatives, Councillors have responsibilities towards their residents and local organisations. This often depends on what the Councillor wants to achieve and how much time is available.
- Advocacy and representation: On issues important to residents, but managed by other public bodies.
All Councillors have the same rights and obligations in their relationship with the Clerk and other employees, regardless of their status or political party, and should be treated equally.
The role of Officers is to give advice and information to Councillors and to implement the policies determined by the Council. In giving such advice to Councillors, and in preparing and presenting reports, it is the responsibility of the Officer to express his/her own professional views and recommendations.
Further information on the role of Councillors and employees can be found within:
