Full Council consists of all members of a particular council or Local Authority and meets about 10-12 times a year.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) April 11, 2024
These meetings are open to the public. pic.twitter.com/Wt2qLOcSWq
One can attend and listen to the interactions and debates but they cannot participate.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) April 11, 2024
The full council is usually responsible for most major decisions but in practice, most of the work is delegated to smaller thematic groups of councillors.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) April 11, 2024
However, these thematic Committees have to come back to the Full Council for ratification of their decisions.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) April 11, 2024
Committee names vary and include: Finance and General Purposes Committee, Human Resources & Gender Committee, Health, Housing and Environmental Services Committee, Audit Committee, Environmental Management Committee and Small to Medium Enterprises Committee.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) April 11, 2024
Councillors get to discuss and vote on certain decisions and matters.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) April 11, 2024
The majority position sails through as the binding decision of all Councillors.
It is the resolution of the Full Council that becomes binding.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) April 11, 2024
Some business can only be determined by Full Council, such as setting council taxes or other local resolutions.
It also deals with objections made by councillors to executive team decisions.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) April 11, 2024
Here, it will debate the issue and either confirm the decision, or refer it back with a recommendation.
A Full Council also receives petitions and questions from members of the public (prior to the meeting).
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) April 11, 2024
While these are free for some local authorities like Harare City Council others like Norton Town Council require a small payment.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) April 11, 2024
Residents can oversee the effectiveness of their particular Councillor by attending these meetings.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) April 11, 2024
The Full Council minutes can also show how or if a Councillor is participating.
Full Council meetings are usually held once per month and are chaired by the Mayor (for cities) or Town Chairperson (for boards and towns).
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) April 11, 2024
However Special Council meetings can be convened when a special matter requiring the full quorum of Councilloras is needed.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) April 11, 2024
This can include the need to vote for a new Mayor as happened in Harare after the multiple recalls of former Mayors.
