With the eye on the upcoming local elections, the Record posed the question on behalf of its readers: What makes for a good ward councillor?
The answer might sound straight-forward — a community man (or woman), someone that knows our struggles, someone that can get things fixed. Perhaps even, someone that has connections in the municipality. How the question is usually answered, with these ideas of a councillor’s job, is in fact an oversimplification of that which he or she is mandated to do.
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It is actually quite difficult to pin down the exact job specifications of a ward or PR councillor. They’re the people you call with anything from a billing query to a cat-stuck-in-a-tree situation. Some are surprised when they find a councillor isn’t as much an all-round ‘fixer’ as he or she is a vital link to local government.
The Record turned to a book titled ‘Handbook for Municipal Councillors’, published by the South African Local Government Association (Salga) in 2006, to clarify these ambiguities. Chapter 3, which deals with the roles and responsibilities of councillors, informed the following four key elements that should influence voters’ choice in an effective local representative; engagement, information, representation and fostering understanding.
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A councillor should be engaging with his or her community regularly through not only ward and public meetings but emails, SMSs and social media. He or she should also be reaching out to make new connections within the community. An effective councillor will inform his or her community of council matters and work transparently with regards to meeting agendas, minutes and outcomes in this regard, being open to distribute it or make it public. Councillors should also be informed and be able to answer questions about or explain council actions, procedures to follow and the impact of intervention.
It is up to a councillor to represent his or her ward’s position and needs to council, which could easily be seen as the highest priority in his or her work. An effective councillor who is engaged with his or her community will also provide feedback on the council’s response, inform actions to take and provide results of any intervention made.
Lastly, a councillor is key in fostering understanding; understanding between council and community, understanding and unity within a ward and towards other wards. Councillors are to work towards social cohesion and cooperation and promote ward unity. Councillors might also shed light on issues within their wards by giving perspective on other wards.
This is what Salga expects of a councillor, and what voters should keep in mind when registering for and going to vote. Who do you want representing you? Send your opinion to the Record via email to mathildem@caxton.co.za
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