A brief note on Municipal committees required by statute

According to the heading of the Municipal committees required by statute, we shall be focusing on the audit committee as well as the appeals committee. The independent body which takes part in advising can be called the audit committee. The appeals committee is the one that listens to the appeal which opposes the political structure as well as political office bearer’s decisions. The appeals committee can be understood as forming based on the Local Government’s section 64(2) (c). As we move forward, we shall be studying both the audit committee and appeals committee in detail. 

The Audit Committee

According to the Municipal Finance Management Act’s Section 166, it is required by all municipalities that they are having an audit committee. This audit committee ought to serve the goal of becoming a self-governing advisory body for the municipal manager in one’s role as an officer in accounting, political office bearers, management, council and staff. It is required for the audit committee to take care of any issues regarding the monetary concerns of municipalities and at a possibility, external as well as internal audits are crucial. The process of reporting qualitative features of the financial reporting, ethical regulatory requirements and the municipality’s procedure as well as compliance with crucial applicable legal requirements, ought to be assessed and reviewed by the audit committee.

It can be said that the role of the audit committee regarding the advisory domain is concerned with various issues. These can include internal audits as well as internal financial exposure to danger. The role also includes taking care of managing risk and accounting policies. Apart from this, in terms of the financial reporting and information, the adequacy, accuracy and reliability are also taken care of by the audit committee. The evaluation of performance as well as taking care of other concerns which are referred by the municipalities are taken care of.

Thus, one can say that the audit committee ought to review the financial statements so as to provide the council with a reliable perspective of the municipality’s monetary position. Further, in case there is some concern raised by the auditor general then the audit committee ought to respond to it. Apart from this, even the investigations requested by the council must be carried out into the municipality’s monetary concerns.

Appeals Committee

According to the Local Government Section 64(2) (c), the Municipal Systems Act helps in understanding how a committee ought to be appointed by the Municipal Council so as to listen to the appeals which are opposing the political structure’s decisions or the political office bearer of the municipality’s decisions. It may be noted that no council who was engaged in the verdict which has become the topic for appeal regarding that decision is listened to and decided upon. Thus, the individuals who are a member of the appeals committee ought to not have any prior engagement with the particular case. Thus, it may be said that the committee formed for hearing the appeals can be called the appeals committee. 

Conclusion

As observed from the above discussion, the topic regarding the Municipal committees required by statute, Audit committee, appeals committee and section 64(2) (c) have been clearly understood. The audit committee can be described as an independent body that takes part in advising. Moving forward, the appeals committee can be described as the one which listens to the appeal which opposes the political structure as well as political office bearer’s decisions. Thus, both the committees have well-defined roles and functions which they perform. It may be concluded that the above sections helped in learning about the Municipal committees required by statute, the Audit Committee, the appeals committee and section 64(2) (c) in a clear and comprehensive manner.