A Guide for Councillors

The Role of Councillors in Municipal Finance Management

Part 1

Promoting development in communities Municipal councils must promote development in their areas. Councillors should use the MFMA to make sure that municipal expenditure matches the development priorities in their municipality. The MFMA requires that the municipal budget matches the integrated development plan (IDP). Communities are involved in drawing up the IDP for their area. The MFMA requires that the municipal manager reports on progress to the council regularly. Councillors should use this information to account to their communities. Communities should monitor service delivery in their wards by using the reports that are required by the MFMA. The council may wish to set up special brie fi ng meetings to discuss these reports, which should be made available using information on progress of works and services budgeted for. These meetings should include senior of fi cials who are able to further explain any variations from the original plans. Such information should be made available on a ward basis so as to allow all ward councillors to comment on progress of works and services relevant to their area. • • •

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Understanding the Municipal Finance Management Act