Role of Council
The Mayor
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presides at meetings of the Council.
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carries out civic and ceremonial functions.
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in cases of necessity exercises policy making functions of the Council between meetings.
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performs other functions as the Council determines.
Policy Formulation
The Local Government Act 1993 gave legislative effect to the traditional view of Local Government Administrators that the role of the Mayor and Councillors is to formulate policies for a Council’s operations, to determine the budgetary priorities and to review performance to ensure that the objectives are achieved. The Act specifically provides that it is the Councillors who direct and control the affairs of the Council in accordance with the Act.
Councillors
Councillors are empowered to exercise direction and control through their function of allocating the Council’s resources when the Integrated Plans are being prepared. They are also given a key role in the creation and review of the Council’s policies and objectives and the criteria relating to the exercise of the Council’s regulatory functions.
Performance Review
The authority of Councillors to direct and control the Council’s affairs is further emphasised by their role of reviewing the performance of the Council and its delivery of services.
This review is achieved by regular comparison of objectives defined in the Integrated Plans against actual performance including the achievement of objectives defined in the performance agreements of senior staff.
Councillors as Elected Persons
Through their daily activities living and working in the City and through their role of receiving representations from constituents, Councillors bring to the policy making and budgetary process a vast reservoir of knowledge and understanding of community aspirations which through the formal debating processes of the Council coalesce into policies and priorities which are uniquely suited to the people of Queanbeyan.
General Manager
The General Manager, Mr Gary Chapman with the support of his Group Managers and other Managers is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Council and the implementation without undue delay of the decisions of the Council.
It is the General Manager who has the function of appointment of staff in accordance with an organisation structure and resources approved by the Council. He is also given the function of direction and dismissal of Council staff and other functions which may be delegated to him by the Council or which are conferred or imposed on him by or under the Local Government or any other Act.