A Guide for Councillors

Part 3 Understanding the Municipal Finance Management Act

3.2 Political accountability

I MUST SAY THAT REPRESENTING ALL THE PEOPLE IN MY WARD IS NOT SO SIMPLE! THERE ARE VERY RICH PEOPLE AND VERY POOR PEOPLE IN MY WARD AND THEY SEEM TO HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS AND NEEDS.

IF THE POOR PEOPLE ARE GIVEN LAND AND HOUSES NEAR WHERE THEY WORK, THE RICH PEOPLE WORRY ABOUT THEIR PROPERTY PRICES. TO MAKE MY LIFE SIMPLE I THINK I MUST JUST REPRESENT THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO VOTED FOR MY PARTY.

THAT WOULD BE MAKING A BIG MISTAKE. ALTHOUGH YOU MUST STICK TO THE POLICIES OF YOUR PARTY, YOU MUST SERVE ALL THE PEOPLE IN YOUR WARD – EVEN THOSE WHO DID NOT VOTE FOR YOU. IT IS A BIT OF A BALANCING ACT BUT IF WE ACCOUNT TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE AND CONSULT THEM ABOUT DIFFICULT ISSUES, IT IS A BIT EASIER.

Councillors must primarily serve the communities that elected them. They may be guided by the policies of their political party, but their most important accountability should always be to the community. Setting direction Councillors must set the direction for municipal activities. They must: consider the views of the community in the planning of services, budgeting and reviewing the performance of the municipality ensure that the budget matches the council’s policy objectives and the priorities of the community. Council must consider the views of the community and government before it makes any decisions that affect municipal fi nances, for example, when revising the IDP, adopting or adjusting the budget, establishing a municipal entity or authorising service delivery contracts. • •

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The Role of Councillors in Municipal Finance Management