There are many different ways that councillors (and the public) can raise issues with the council. These are:

Petitions

Councillors or individuals are allowed to send petitions to the municipal manager. The purpose of the petition is to inform the council and the administration that a large number of people want something to be done, for example, if a law is not being applied properly.

Petitions are handed to the council secretary at the council meeting. The petition is usually referred to the management committee that will then report to council. The officials send the petition around to the relevant departments who will make recommendations to the relevant committees. These committees then make recommendations to the executive. The executive discusses the petition and then makes recommendations to the council.

The councillor or group that has sent the petition must follow its progress by keeping in contact with the relevant departments.

Questions to Council

Questions can be used to monitor progress and implementation and get reliable information about council policies and programmes. Questions can be sent in writing or asked during a meeting. Written questions must be submitted 10 days before the council meeting so that the officials have time to prepare the answers. Answers will often be given at the meetings themselves. The executive chairperson can often answer a question verbally or provide a reply in writing. Any councillor can ask a question about executive recommendations or decisions and any executive member can make immediate verbal replies.

Requests

Collective and individual requests are the easiest way to get information or to bring problems to the attention of officials. When councillors table requests on behalf of their constituency, this should be done in a manner that respects rules and protocol. If by-laws exist to address a request, then a positive response may be done quickly.

For example, if someone has a blocked water drain you can go to the relevant official and make a request to get it fixed. But if you want something new in your ward and there is no policy on this, then a request will not work.