It is naturally difficult for all members of the City Council to get involved in every single issue. This is especially so as the majority are politically active but hold a full-time job at the same time. Therefore there are council committees with different goals.
Almost all members have a place on one or more of these committees. The council has 11 geographical committees and one finance committee.
The aim of the work carried out by a committee is that it should be easier for the members to participate in and affect municipal decisions as well as getting closer to the voters, gain their views and pass them on. The most important areas of operation within a municipality are statutory authorities, emergency services, child and elderly care and education. But how these and all the other municipal operations are carried out is not the responsibility of the Council.
The committees rule
The council has delegated responsibility to the seven Specialist Committees:
- Children and Youth Committees
- Cultural and Recreational Activities Committee
- Education Committee
- Public Transport Committee
- Community Care Services Committee
- Technical Services and Community Planning Committee
- Elderly Care Services Committee
Together with the Executive Office the Committees deal with the decisions made by the council and see that they are carried out and contained within the financial parameters decided by the council.
The Authority Committees which are the Social Services Committee; Building Committee Environment Committee carry out the same duties as the Specialist Committees but their activities are regulated by legislation.
The Chief Guardians’ Committee, which is the fourth authority committee, was formed on 1 January 2007. This committee is responsible for exercising public authority relating to overseeing that the legal rights and the provision of good service is provided to the inhabitants of the municipality who are unable to take advantage of their rights, manage their property and in certain cases take care of themselves.
Based on legislation, the Authority Committees can make decisions which have far reaching consequences on the individual. The Social Services Act, Compulsory Care of Young Persons Act, Compulsory Care of Alcohol and Drug Abusers and the Education Act are such examples.