The Role of a Mayor and a Councillor and YOU

I have been approached by some residents unsure about the role and responsibilities of a Mayor and a Councillor. I also would like to discuss the power of You during the election process. You, as the elector have a very important role to play on Saturday 19^th March. You have the opportunity to vote for a total of seven candidates that You believe will carry out the office of Mayor or Councillor in a way that represents You, and how You wish the Somerset region to develop over the next four years, and in to the future. I gladly offer the following information:

In the elected role of Mayor or Councillor, the opportunity is available to build a better future for our community. This can be achieved by:-

• Providing strategic direction for one of the biggest businesses in our community
• Advocating the community’s aspirations and needs to other levels of Government
• Delivering major infrastructure for the benefit of our community
• Working to promote the safety and wellbeing of our community
• Providing efficient and effective local services and facilities.

These opportunities will be achieved by the Mayor and Councillors by:-

• Taking part in Council Meetings to make decisions for ‘the common good’, now and for the future, for the whole Council area
• Providing leadership to the Council and our community
• Shaping the future of our community by adopting and implementing the planning scheme which sets out how land in the Council area can be used and the standards the Council will require developers to comply with
• Being responsible to our community for the performance of the Council.

The Mayor has the added responsibilities of:

• Leading and managing Council Meetings
• Representing the Council and our community at ceremonial functions
• Preparing and presenting the Council’s annual budget
• Leading and managing the Chief Executive Officer to ensure Council decisions are carried out.

And You as the elector should expect the following principles from the Mayor and Councillors:-

• Transparent and effective processes and decision making in the public interest
• Sustainable development and management of assets and infrastructure and delivery of services
• Democratic representation, social inclusion and meaningful community engagement
• Good governance of, and by, the Council
• Ethical and legal behaviours of the Mayor, Councillors and Council employees.

In a little over three week’s time, You will need to have given consideration to the information contained above. I encourage you to consider attending one of the Meet the Candidates Nights that the two regional Chambers have organised. Questions will be taken from the floor, so give some thought to likely questions you may wish to ask before the event. The region’s major towns, Lowood, Fernvale, Esk, Toogoolawah and Kilcoy will be holding these informative “meet and greet” nights early March. Please refer to advertisements regarding the town, venue and time of each event.

I look forward to meeting you and discussing your particular issues, comments, or just to say hello, at the Meet the Candidates Nights, or at one of the region’s markets on the following dates: