Speaker The speaker is elected by the council and becomes the chairperson of the council. The speaker presides at council meetings. (In a plenary system which is relatively small, the mayor performs the duties of both mayor and speaker). The Structures Act defines the speaker as a councillor elected in terms of section 36 of the Act to be the chairperson of a municipal council as envisaged in section 160 (1)(b) of the Constitution. The speaker’s role in a municipality will mostly depend on the internal arrangements made by the municipality itself. The formulation of the terms of reference for the speaker in terms of section 53 of the Systems Act will be a critical process. The speaker’s role in a municipality is key to ensuring oversight, accountability, integrity,discipline of office, and the efficient running of council meetings. As such, impartiality in the exercise of his or her function is essential for the speaker. The speaker must distinguish between his or her activities as a politician and his or her functions as a speaker. It also means that the function of the speaker and the non-partisan exercise of that function must be respected by members, parties and interests represented in the council. The key principles underlying the role of the speaker are: Ô chair of council meetings; Ô implementation of the Code of Conduct; Ô exercise of delegated functions including y facilitating public participation in legislative matters y establishment and functioning of ward committees y support to councillors. The functions of speakers are set out in section 37 of the Structures Act. The speaker of a municipal council: presides at meetings of the council; Ô performs the duties and exercises the powers delegated to the speaker in terms of section 59 of the Systems Act; Ô must ensure that the council meets at least quarterly; Ô must maintain order during meetings; Ô must ensure compliance in the council and council committees with the Code of Conduct set out in Schedule 1 to the Systems Act; Ô must ensure that council meetings are conducted in accordance with the rules and orders of the council. During council meetings the speaker is required to: Ô maintain order; Ô ensure that council meetings are conducted in accordance with Rules of Order ofCouncil; Ô ensure that councillors get adequate notice of meetings; Ô ensure implementation of procedure with regard to quorums and compliance with section 30 of the Structures Act; Ô allocate speaking time to members in accordance with the council’s policy; Ô implement voting procedure in accordance with Rules of Order and subject to the Structures Act; ensure that councillors freedom of speech is protected; Ô ensure that councillors freedom of speech is exercised subject to council’s Rules of Order; Ô ensure and facilitate the admission of public to council meetings; Ô grant leave of absence to councillors in accordance with council’s Rules of Orders; Ô guard against the abuse of councillor’s privileges and interest; Ô maintain an attendance register.
Posted on: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 03:22:24 +0000
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