The declaration must be made within two months of election and will be organised by the local CEO. government’s Council members’ rights Right to request that votes be recorded In council or committee meetings, a member can request that either his or her vote, or the votes of all members present, be recorded in the minutes. If such a request is made, the vote or votes must be recorded. Right to be on at least one committee A council member is entitled to be on at least one committee comprising council members only, or council members and employees, if the council operates using a committee structure. The council determines the committee(s) on which the councillor is placed. Right to request further information when making decisions Council and committee members have rights to access information that are additional to those given to the general public. These rights are to ensure that members are properly informed on matters that are relevant to their functions. Members can access the following additional information held by a local government: all written contracts of the local government; all documents relating to written contracts which the local government proposes to enter into; and any information that is relevant to their functions. The functions of council members in this context are not defined, but are likely to include: any function that a member is appointed or authorised to carry out by the council (such as attending a meeting or conference); preparations for an upcoming meeting; or anything the member is doing in carrying out his or her role as mayor or president or councillor. The access provisions do not give members unlimited licence to information held by the local government. Members may only seek access to information that is relevant to the
The declaration must be made within two months of election and will be organised by the local government’s CEO. Council members’ rights Right to request that votes be recorded In council or committee meetings, a member can request that either his or her vote, or the votes of all members present, be recorded in the minutes. If such a request is made, the vote or votes must be recorded. Right to be on at least one committee A council member is entitled to be on at least one committee comprising council members only, or council members and employees, if the council operates using a committee structure. The council determines the committee(s) on which the councillor is placed. Right to request further information when making decisions Council and committee members have rights to access information that are additional to those given to the general public. These rights are to ensure that members are properly informed on matters that are relevant to their functions. Members can access the following additional information held by a local government: all written contracts of the local government; all documents relating to written contracts which the local government proposes to enter into; and any information that is relevant to their functions. The functions of council members in this context are not defined, but are likely to include: any function that a member is appointed or authorised to carry out by the council (such as attending a meeting or conference); preparations for an upcoming meeting; or anything the member is doing in carrying out his or her role as mayor or president or councillor. The access provisions do not give members unlimited licence to information held by the local government. Members may only seek access to information that is relevant to the