A Guide for Councillors

The Role of Councillors in Municipal Finance Management

Part 3

Setting objectives and priorities Councillors set objectives for service delivery and new development in their area, as well as for collection of money. Setting objectives and priorities for the municipality requires that councillors have a good knowledge of their communities. They also need to understand the main economic features of the local area and region as well as the natural and built environment. Councillors should know the economic strengths and limitations of those communities. This helps them to set realistic collection targets to make reliable income estimates in the municipal budget. Establishing fi nance policy Council must adopt policies for credit control and debt collection. The policy may differentiate between different categories of residents provided this does not amount to unfair discrimination. Municipal policy must provide for indigent customers in a way that is in line with national policy on indigents. The main point of these policies is to ensure that people or businesses who can afford to pay for services, do so. They also need to accommodate poor households who have the right to basic services even if they are unable to pay for them.

I OFTEN GET COMPLAINTS THAT THE PUBLIC GET SENT FROM PILLAR TO POST BY THE STAFF. PEOPLE GET TO THE FRONT OF THE QUEUE AND THEN THE STAFF DON ‛ T KNOW HOW TO HELP THEM. WHAT CAN I DO AS A COUNCILLOR?

Councillors should not instruct or direct a municipal staff member. It is against the code of conduct for councillors. They can, however, develop policies and standards of customer service that staff must comply with.

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Understanding the Municipal Finance Management Act