In summary, the mayor and executive or mayoral committee are responsible for making policy and monitoring outcomes, while the municipal manager is responsible for managing the administration to implement policy and achieve the specified outcomes.

• Councillors approve policy or amend budgets and priorities proposed by the executive or committees
• Councillors pass by-laws that reflect their policies and objectives.
• The executive or mayoral committee sets the vision, mission and the outcomes and outputs required of the administration.
• The municipal manager must carry out the instructions given by the executive on behalf of the council.
• The municipal manager and administration must give the executive regular reports on its activities.
• The executive checks that the municipal manager is carrying out his or her duties under the employment contract.
• The council monitors the performance of the mayor and executive.
• A councillor cannot give an official a direct instruction to do something – this goes against the lines of accountability.
• Officials may not try to unduly influence the council, or provide it with misleading information.
• To avoid corruption, councillors and officials may not be in a business venture together.

The Municipal Structures Act sets out codes of conduct for councillors (these codes apply equally to traditional leaders).