As per Section 12 of the Local Government Act 2009, a Councillor must represent the current and future interests of the residents of the local government area.

Councillors also have the following responsibilities:

• ensuring the local government:
  • discharges its responsibilities under the Local Government Act 2009;
  • achieves its corporate and community plans;
  • complies with all laws that apply to local governments;
• providing high quality leadership to the local government and the community;
• participating in council meetings, policy development, and decision-making, for the benefit of the local government area;
• being accountable to the community for the local government's performance.

The Mayor has the following additional responsibilities:

• leading and managing meetings of the local government at which the mayor is the chairperson, including managing the conduct of the participants at the meetings;
• preparing a budget to present to the local government;
• directing the chief executive officer and senior executive employees, in accordance with the local government's policies;
• ensuring that the local government promptly provides the Minister with the information about the local government area, or the local government, that is requested by the Minister;
• being a member of each standing committee of the local government;
• representing the local government at ceremonial or civic functions.

Please note that Somerset Regional Council is not divided for electoral purposes (i.e. there are no electoral wards or divisions). Party politics have not been introduced into the Council.

Consult the Local Government Act 2009 for more details.

Councillor Reimbursement of Expenses Policy