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Local Authorities The role of the Councillor.
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A councillor's primary role is to represent the interests of local residents. They can help you if you have an issue in your area with things such as:Public transportRoad maintenancePlanning decisions Licensing Running of schools, libraries, museums and galleriesSocial work services Refuse collectionHousing benefit and council tax benefit. The role of the councillor?
What councillors do? • Councillors attend full meetings of the council. • Make decisions about policy, budgets and services at a local or community level • May have executive posts in relation to policy making, delivery of services and use of resources – for example A member of the Education Committee. • Attend community council meetings. • Serve on forums through which local issues can be discussed between elected members, council officers and the wider community.
If you had a problem with a service provided by the council how could your councillor help you? • In pairs, see if you can think in what ways a councillor could help you with this issue.
If you have a problem how then can the councillor deal with it. • Offer you advice. • Speak to the relevant Department on your behalf. • Raise your issue with the relevant council Committee. • Take your issue to a meeting with the full council. • Contact the MSP/MP or EuroMP on your behalf.
What kind of Committees can councillors be a member of? • There are a number of different committees. • We are going to look at two Committees In North Lanarkshire • Planning Committee. • Licensing Committee.
Licensing Committee • The Safety of Sports Grounds- (turnstiles, crowd size, seating) • The Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act. (Opening hours, gambling machines, location of premises)
PLANNING COMMITTEE • Meet every 3 weeks and make decisions on, • Roads. • The lighting of roads and streets • The naming of streets and the numbering of premises
Question – (You have 6 minutes) • Councillors can assist their communities in many different ways. • Describe, in detail, two ways in which a councillor can help the community they serve. (4 marks) Point Describe Example