The main formal contact persons between councillors and the municipal administration are the executive mayor and the municipal manager. There should also be an informal relationship between each mayoral or executive committee member and the matching head of department within the municipal administration, for example, between the councillor responsible for health and the head of the health department.

There should be clear lines of communication and accountability, and separation of roles. A councillor should not interfere in the management or administration of a department, for example by giving direct instructions to municipal employees or interfering with the implementation of a council decision. Officials may not try to unduly influence the council, or provide it with misleading information.