What They Do - Role of Councillors
Leader
Leader
The role of the Leader of the Council is to perform the following main functions:
- To lead the development of Council strategy and services to meet community needs.
- To co-ordinate and facilitate the Executive in the planning and exercising of its work.
- To act as the Council's ambassador in representing the authority to external bodies on any aspect of the Council's activities.
In order to perform the above role the Leader will need to fulfil the following responsibilities:
- To lead, chair and co-ordinate the Executive in setting strategic vision aims, priorities and financial strategy for the Council.
- To lead and co-ordinate the forward work plan for the Executive with other Executive colleagues and senior officers.
- To manage the performance of the Executive, both collectively and as individual Executive Members.
- To ensure in conjunction with Executive colleagues that the Council, individual Members, general public and partners are consulted with and kept informed regarding issues affecting the Council's policies and services.
- To provide visible leadership and act as an advocate and spokesperson for the Council and where appropriate for their political group both within and outside the Council.
- To ensure that there is effective political decision making within the Council.
- To maintain a sound working knowledge of issues affecting the Council's area and local government in general.
- To actively promote partnership working with external organisations.
- To maintain effective working relationships with officers to drive the implementation of agreed policies and ensure that services are delivered in a way that accords with agreed Council priorities.
- To co-operate in full with the Council's scrutiny processes.
- To take individual and collective responsibility for ensuring that the functions of the Executive are carried out in accordance with the law, the Council's constitution, and the standing orders of the Council.
- To maintain knowledge of and act in accordance with relevant legislation and the Councils own constitution and protocols as regards decision making, codes of conduct, ethical government, member/officer relationships etc.
- To keep under review the training and development needs of Executive members and to ensure that they receive appropriate training and development to enable them to perform their roles.
- To undertake such training as may be appropriate in performing the role.
Community Councillor
The role of the Community Councillor is to fulfil four main functions:
- To understand and represent the needs of their individual ward.
- To contribute to the wider strategic representation and decision making that affects North Devon as a whole.
- To participate fully to any committee, working group, partnership working etc. as established by the Council.
- To act a lead member for any of the Council's activities as may be required by the Council.
In order to perform the above role a Council will need to fulfil the following responsibilities:
- To maintain an up to date knowledge of the needs and issues affecting their ward and to participate in appropriate consultation exercises to ensure such knowledge is up to date.
- To maintain an up to date knowledge of the needs and issues affecting the Council as a whole and to participate in appropriate consultation exercises to ensure such knowledge is up to date.
- To actively participate in and maintain an up to date knowledge of the issues affecting such committees, working groups, partnerships etc and exercise any delegated powers in connection with such work.
- To ensure when fulfilling their responsibilities that they balance the needs of their individual ward with the needs of North Devon as a whole.
- To deal with individual casework and act as an advocate for constituents in resolving particular concerns or problems.
- To ensure that the Council, Executive and relevant Committees are kept informed regarding issues affecting the work of the Community Councillor.
- To maintain knowledge of an act in accordance with relevant legislation and the Councils own constitution policies and protocols as regards decision making, codes of conduct, ethical government, member/officer relationships etc.
- To undertake such training as may be appropriate to performing the role.
Member of Executive and Portfolio Holder
The role of a Member of the Executive is to perform the following main functions:
- As part of the Executive help create for the Council the vision and overall strategy for delivering that vision.
- To participate in the collective strategic decision making of the Executive.
- To be the lead, spokesperson and advocate of the Executive and the Council in respect of any executive portfolio nominated to him/her as an individual member of the Executive.
In order to perform the above role a Councillor will need to fulfil the following responsibilities within the requirements of the Constitution:
- To work collectively with the rest of the Executive and senior officers to set the strategic vision, aims, priorities, and financial strategy for the Council.
- To ensure in conjunction with Executive colleagues that the Council, individual Members, general public and partners are consulted with an kept informed regarding issues affecting the Council's policies and services.
- To lead for the Executive in any matter allocated ensuring that appropriate policies, work programmes and services are provided in accordance with the Council's policies, Scheme of Delegation and relevant legislation.
- To be accountable for the achievement of the objectives allocated and to report thereon to the Executive, Council and Members through the quarterly performance report.
- To maintain a sound working knowledge of issues affecting the Council's area and local government in general.
- To actively promote partnership working with external organisations where instructed by the Executive and where such a partnership will provide demonstrable benefits to achieving the objectives and targets of the Council.
- To uphold appropriate and effective working practices with officers within the Member/Officer protocol to drive the implementation of agreed policies and ensure that services are delivered in a way that accords with agreed Council priorities.
- To co-operate in full with the Council's scrutiny processes.
- To takes individual and collective responsibility for ensuring that the decisions and functions of the Executive are carried out in accordance with the law, the Council's constitution, and the standing orders of the Council.
- To maintain knowledge of and act in accordance with relevant legislation and the Councils own constitution and protocols as regards decision making, codes of conduct, ethical government, member/officer relationships etc.
- To undertake such training as may be appropriate to performing the role.
Committee Chairman
The role of a Committee Chairman is to perform the following main functions:
- To lead on organising the work programme of the committee to which they have been appointed and ensure within the terms of the Council's Scheme of Delegation that the programme has been completed.
- To act as service champion for the functions falling within the remit of the Committee.
- To chair formal and informal meetings connected with the work of the committee and ensure that such meetings are conducted fairly, efficiently and in accordance with Standing Orders and other legislative requirements.
- To ensure that members are kept informed regarding the committee's activities and work programme.
- To identify and facilitate the development and training needs of the committee collectively and its individual members.
In order to perform the above role a Chairman will need to fulfil the following
responsibilities:
- In consultation with Members, officers and other stakeholders bring appropriate work programmes to the Committee for approval in accordance with its Terms of Reference.
- To ensure that such work programmes are completed effectively and efficiently by those charges with specific tasks in accordance with relevant Schemes of Delegations.
- To agree in consultation with Members and officers agendas for all relevant meetings.
- To Chair formal and informal meetings connected with the work of the Committee in accordance with Standing Orders and other legislative requirements.
- To ensure that meetings are conducted in an efficient and appropriate manner that encourages contributions from all committee Members.
- To ensure that the committee reaches clear decisions that are capable of implementation and in accordance with legislation and the general policies of the Council.
- To maintain awareness of national and local issues pertinent to the committee and its work.
- To co-operate in full with the Council's scrutiny process.
- To ensure that the Council, Executive, Members and the community are kept appropriately informed regarding the work and activities of the Committee and any issues that may affect it.
- To keep under review, advise of an agree the training and development requirements of the committee and its individual members.
- To liase with other bodies as appropriate to ensure the success of the Committee's work programme.
- To maintain knowledge of and act in accordance with relevant legislation and the Councils own constitution and protocols as regards decision making, codes of conduct, ethical government, member/officer relationships etc.
- To undertake such training as may be appropriate in performing the role.
Committee Vice-Chairman
The role of a Committee Vice-Chairman is to perform the following main functions:
- To assist the Chairman in organising the work programme of the Committee to which they have been appointed and ensure within the terms of the Council's Scheme of Delegation that the programme has been completed.
- To support the Chairman in their role as Service Champion for the functions falling within the remit of the Committee.
- In the absence of the Chairman to chair formal and informal meetings connected with the work of the Committee and ensure that such meetings are conducted fairly, efficiently and in accordance with Standing Orders and other legislative requirements.
- To assist in ensuring that Members are kept informed regarding the Committee's activities and work programme.
- To assist in identifying and facilitating the development and training needs of the Committee collectively and its individual Members.
In order to perform the above role a Vice Chairman will need to fulfil the following responsibilities:
- In consultation with the Chairman, Members and officers assist in bringing appropriate work programmes tot he Committee for approval in accordance with its Terms of Reference.
- To help ensure that such work programmes are completed effectively and efficiently by those charges with specific tasks in accordance with relevant Schemes of Delegation.
- To support the Chairman in agreeing with Members and officers agendas for all relevant meetings.
- To chair, in the absence of the Chairman, formal and informal meetings connected with the work of the Committee in accordance with the terms of reference of the Committee, Standing Orders and other legislative requirements.
- To help ensure that meetings are conducted in an efficient and appropriate manner that encourages contributions from all Committee Members.
- To assist in ensuring that the Committee reaches clear decisions that are capable of implementation and in accordance with legislation and the general policies of the Council.
- To maintain awareness of national and local issues pertinent to the Committee and its work.
- To co-operate in full with the Council's scrutiny processes.
- To help ensure that the Council, Executive, Members and the community are kept appropriately informed regarding the work and activities of the Committee and any issues that may affect it.
- To assist in keeping under review, advising on and agreeing the training and development requirements of the Committee and its individual Members.
- To liaise with other bodies as appropriate to ensure the success of the Committee's work programme.
- To maintain knowledge of and act in accordance with relevant legislation and the Council's own constitution and protocols as regards decision making, codes of conduct, ethical government, Member/officer relationships etc.
- To undertake such training as may be appropriate in performing the role.
