South Australian Current Acts

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1999 - SECT 59

59—Roles of members of councils

        (1)         The role of a member of a council is—

            (a)         as a member of the governing body of the council—

                  (i)         to act with integrity; and

                  (ii)         to ensure positive and constructive working relationships within the council; and

                  (iii)         to recognise and support the role of the principal member under the Act; and

                  (iv)         to develop skills relevant to the role of a member of the council and the functions of the council as a body; and

                  (v)         to participate in the deliberations and activities of the council; and

                  (vi)         to keep the council's objectives and policies under review to ensure that they are appropriate and effective; and

                  (vii)         to keep the council's resource allocation, expenditure and activities, and the efficiency and effectiveness of its service delivery, under review; and

                  (viii)         to ensure, as far as is practicable, that the principles set out in section 8 are observed; and

                  (ix)         to participate in the oversight of the chief executive officer's performance under the council's contract with the chief executive officer; and

                  (x)         to serve the overall public interest; and

            (b)         as a person elected to the council—to represent the interests of residents and ratepayers of the council, to provide community leadership and guidance, and to facilitate communication between the community and the council.

        (2)         A member of a council may, with the principal member's authorisation, act in place of, or represent, the principal member.

        (3)         A member of a council has no direct authority over an employee of the council with respect to the way in which the employee performs his or her duties.