What Councillors do...

Aberdeen City Council is led by its 43 elected members, who together represent Aberdeen. The Council is the democratically elected leader of the local community with a responsibility for the well being and sustainable development of Aberdeen City. Councillors have a key role in making sure local government fulfils its main purposes of providing quality services, protecting the environment, and working towards developing a sound economy within the principles of partnership, equality and accountability.

Representation

Councillors represent their own particular wards and make decisions about the way that the city is run, and about the services the Council provides. Residents may contact their councillor to express their views and ensure that those views are considered in the Council's decision-making processes. Most councillors hold regular open sessions - surgeries - in their wards so that constituents can meet with them and discuss various issues relevant to their neighbourhood and the city as a whole. These surgeries provide councillors with invaluable experience of the day-to-day challenges faced by local people.

Functions and Responsibilities

Councillors deal with the issues for which Aberdeen City Council is responsible. Some of the main functions and responsibilities of Aberdeen City Council are: Education, Social Work, Housing, Building Control, Strategic Planning, Libraries, Transportation and Roads, Parks, Aberdeen Art Gallery and some city museums, and Council owned leisure sports and community facilities (such as swimming pools), Economic Development, Consumer Protection, Licensing Applications and Environmental Health.

Local Issues

Your councillor represents you on Aberdeen City Council. You can approach your councillor about local issues that concern you. It is useful to know who your councillor is, as he or she is your democratically elected representative on the City Council, and so can represent your views about many local services and issues.

Role of Members

All Members have an over-riding duty as a councillor to represent their whole community. They must be accessible to the people who live in the areas for which they have been elected to serve and represent their interests conscientiously.

Councillors are a point of contact with local groups and are able to represent the views of groups and individuals regarding council policies, services and the needs of the area. They work with local people and other organisations such as the police, health service and local business , to develop and plan services in their area of the city. They represent the community and the council on partnerships and outside bodies.

Councillors are increasingly becoming involved in scrutinising the impact and the work of all public agencies in their area including central government, the police and the health authority. Councillors will also monitor and scrutinise the performance of the services the Council provides