The City of Cockburn is governed by a Council that is responsible for making decisions on behalf of its community. The Mayor and Councillors meet once a month at Council meetings to discuss and decide on issues, programs and policies for the local community.
Council is guided by the City’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who is accountable to the Elected Members. The CEO works alongside Council and a large team of administrative staff to ensure the City is being serviced efficiently and professionally.
Local governments look after matters affecting the local community such as community buildings and facilities, road maintenance, footpaths and parks. Local governments issue licences for building, planning and development and look after local environmental and public health. Local governments provide important community facilities such as halls, recreation centres and libraries. They also provide social support to meet the needs of the community, including early childhood, youth, families, seniors and disabled services. Local governments also care for their local environment, maintaining parks and conservation reserves as well as local sustainability and climate change programs and policies.
In Cockburn, the organisation is separated into five divisions that oversee the services and facilities in the local area.
The duty of a Council is to listen to the ideas and concerns of the people and to provide them with the kind of community they want. Cockburn’s Council consists of the Mayor and nine Councillors. Each Councillor represents one of three Wards across the City. Councillors each serve a four year term but elections are held every two years to renew half of the Elected Member’s terms.
The Mayor is chief of the Council and presides over Council meetings. The Mayor is also the official spokesperson for the City and works with all sectors across the community.
Council operates within the Local Government Act, Local Laws and Local Policies and must abide by a strict Code of Conduct.
Council meetings are held on the second Thursday of every month in the Council Chambers from 7pm. At Council meetings, the Mayor and Councillors discuss, debate and make a final decision on the matters before them. Elected Members must reach a majority in order to make decisions. These decisions are known as Council Resolutions.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is the head of staff at the City of Cockburn. He/she is the Chief Adviser to the Mayor and Council, and is also accountable to them.
The CEO has a team of senior staff who are experts in their professions and assist the CEO in the management and operation of the City. The CEO ensures work is completed to a high standard, finances are being used correctly and that Council resolutions are carried out. The CEO oversees more than 800 staff who work at the City of Cockburn.