A Guide for Councillors

The Role of Councillors in Municipal Finance Management

Part 3

3.1 Planning and accountability Council must have clear plans which are used as a basis for accountability to the public. Policies and regulations help implement the plans in a way that is effective and ef fi cient. This is referred to as administrative accountability. Councillors must make sure that the community’s needs are re fl ected in the plans. They should make sure that the necessary processes of consultation are planned in time to allow community input to be taken seriously. Before councillors can monitor how well the municipality performs against their plans, they need to set up procedures that allow the community to participate in monitoring the performance of the municipality. This is important to ensure that any changing needs within the community are re fl ected when plans are adjusted. Council must demonstrate that it has listened to the community and included its inputs. The annual report is another way that a municipality is accountable to the public.

Political and administrative accountability

Community

P o

l i

Municipal Council = legislative + executive authority

A c c o u n t a b

c y

& D i r e c t i

Council Portfolio Committees

Council Portfolio Committees

Executive Mayor / Committee

i l i t y

Municipal manager / Accounting f fi cer o

o n

Administration

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Understanding the Municipal Finance Management Act