Councillor's Role

Councillors are elected to Council at local government elections, which are held every four years.

In the Manly local government area there are no wards, and each councillor represents the entire Council area. The Mayor is directly elected by the Community for a term of 4 years. This can only be changed by constitutional referendum.

Manly has 12 elected representatives in total who all serve a four year term. The Mayor is elected directly by the people and is joined by 11 fellow Councillors who are also elected by the people. The Deputy Mayor is elected each year by the Mayor and Councillors.

The key function of the Councillors is to represent the diverse interests of the residents & ratepayers of Manly in determining Council policies and strategies. This assists Council to achieve the vision and goals as outlined in Council’s Strategic Plan.

Councillors are members of the governing body of the Council and as such:-

  • direct and control affairs of the Council in accordance with the Local Government Act
  • participate in the optimum allocation of the Council's resources for the benefit of the area
  • play a key role in the creation and review of the Council's policies and objectives and criteria relating to the exercise of the Council's regulatory functions
  • review the performance of the Council and its' delivery of services, and the strategic plan and revenue policies of the Council.

As an elected official the Councillor's role is to :-

  • represent the interests of the residents and ratepayers

  • provide leadership and guidance to the community

  • facilitate communication between the community and the Council.

Elections

Across NSW, Local Government Elections were held on September 13th 2008 and the next general election for Local Government bodies in NSW is due to be held on 8th September 2012. At this upcoming Election, only 9 Councillors are being elected as the reduction in number was approved at a referendum conducted at the September 2008 Election. 

More information on Council's upcoming elections can be found here: http://www.manly.nsw.gov.au/council/elections/