The municipal council’s tasks

Municipal councils set the municipality’s main policy priorities and check that the municipal executive is implementing them effectively. The council adopts the budget and checks the municipality’s annual financial report. Members of the council all represent local residents, so they must have good links to the community.

Practical matters

Council members also deal with many practical matters, like traffic, environmental issues, health care, culture and sport. The council also draws up general rules (bye-laws) that apply to people living in the municipality. The Municipalities Act sets out municipal councils’ tasks in full. 

Division of roles

There is a clear division of roles between the municipal council and the municipal executive. For instance, the council has the right to investigate the municipal executive’s administration of the municipality. This division of roles is laid down in the Municipal Authorities (Separation of Powers) Act.