A council is made up of two parts that work together: the elected council (like a board of directors that sets the overall direction), and the council administration (the team of professional staff who carry out that direction).

The elected council

The elected council is made up of community members chosen by the public in council elections. This group is the council's strategic decision-making body, responsible for setting policies, approving the budget, and appointing the general manager.

  • Councillors: A councillor’s main role is to represent the community. While individual councillors can help with communication and participate in council activities, they have no legal power on their own. The council's power is only exercised when councillors act together by voting in a formal meeting to set plans, determine policies or approve budgets.
  • Mayor and deputy mayor: The mayor and deputy mayor are councillors who are directly elected to their leadership positions. In addition to their duties as a councillor, a mayor chairs council meetings, acts as the council's official spokesperson, and leads the appointment and performance review of the general manager.
  • Planning authority: When making decisions on planning and development applications, the council acts as a planning authority. This is a specific legal role where councillors must make decisions based strictly on planning laws, not on popular opinion. You can learn more about this on the Tasmanian Government's planning website.

The council administration

The council administration is the operational arm of the council, led by the general manager.

  • The general manager: The general manager is the only staff member appointed directly by the elected council. The general manager is responsible for managing daily operations, implementing the council's decisions, and providing professional advice. For councils with a CEO, the CEO is the general manager.
  • Council staff: Council staff are the employees who carry out the day-to-day work of the council, delivering the full range of local services and providing technical expertise.