Instrument Brochure
Council members make decisions on important municipal matters, whether they concern revenue and expenditures, healthcare, education, housing, or public services. They also monitor whether the mayor and aldermen (the municipal executive) are properly implementing policy.
In this overview, you can find out what powers and tools the city council can use to carry out its duties.
Rights
Council members have the responsibility to oversee, set policy, and represent the people. To ensure that the city council can properly carry out these responsibilities, the following rights are established in the Municipal Code:
The council allocates revenue and expenditures in the budget. Furthermore, the council ensures that the budget is structurally and realistically balanced. The council also approves the financial statements and the annual report. Through its budgetary authority, the council can steer policy and financial frameworks.
Here’s how it works: Each year, the executive board submits the draft budget. It is then up to the council to allocate the funds to the executive board in the budget for all tasks and activities. The council also determines what financial resources it can use for this purpose.
Council members can submit their own proposals for policies or ordinances.
Through amendments, council members can propose changes to proposed resolutions during meetings.
Through motions, council members can express an opinion, a wish, or a request regarding a particular issue. The council can also use motions to urge the executive board to take action. Please note: motions are not legally binding and are not included in the Municipalities Act. They are instruments provided for in the rules of procedure. The executive board may “set aside” motions (with the exception of a motion of no confidence).
Council members have the right to submit a request to question the executive board on a topic that is not on the agenda of the council meeting.
Council members have the right to ask the executive board oral or written questions.
The executive board is accountable to the council for its administration. In principle, therefore, the executive board must, at the request of a council member or on its own initiative, provide all information necessary for the council to carry out its duties.
The council may launch an investigation into the administration conducted by the executive board. The council may do so in various ways. To this end, the council establishes an investigative committee that may organize hearings.
Every council and every council member is entitled to administrative assistance. In addition, there is a right to support from one’s political group.
The city council sets forth these rights in an ordinance.
Instruments
Council members represent residents from all neighborhoods within the municipalities. To fulfill their roles in setting policy, exercising oversight, and representing the public, they have a number of tools at their disposal. Council members can use these tools to gather information or adjust policy.
Questions and Information
Objective
clarification of issues, a request for facts, and a request for the board's assessment.
What
Questions must be accompanied by an explanation. The board must respond within 30 business days / 6 weeks.
How
Submit written questions to the municipal executive at the clerk’s office.
These are questions that are generally not urgent.
After the questions have been answered, the questioner may request further information regarding the municipal executive’s response at the next committee meeting.
Objective
clarification of issues, a request for facts, and a request for the board's assessment of current issues.
What
Urgent questions raised during the meeting that are justified as urgent. The executive board answers these questions during the meeting. The questioner may ask follow-up questions based on the answer.
How
Council members may submit questions for the question period in writing to the clerk’s office up to 2 business days in advance.
Objective
clarification of matters, request for facts.
What
questions posed by an individual council member to obtain facts and clarification on various matters.
How
Please submit them to the City Council Clerk’s Office along with a brief explanation.
Individual council questions are forwarded to the relevant administrative departments.
A response will be provided within 10 business days.
The questions and answers are made available digitally.
Objective
clarification of issues and/or a request for information regarding a topic on the agenda of the council or committee meeting.
What
questions intended to address the substance of a council proposal without a political agenda.
How
Submit these questions to the clerk’s office. The deadline for this is 5 business days before a committee or council meeting. Technical questions are forwarded to the relevant administrative departments. Responses are provided within 2 business days.
The questions and answers are added to the corresponding agenda item in iBabs.
Objective
The council will receive a briefing on a current topic.
What
Board members answer questions during the committee meeting.
How
Council members must submit a request for information regarding a current topic to the clerk’s office no later than 48 hours before the committee meeting.
Council members will receive answers to their questions at the next committee meeting.
Objective
question council members about a politically sensitive topic that is not on the agenda for a council meeting.
What
a powerful tool. An interpellation debate allows council members to question the executive board. Motions can be submitted during an interpellation debate, which is not possible during a question-and-answer session.
How
Submit the request in writing to the chairperson. The request must include, at a minimum, the questions to be asked. The chairperson will inform the executive committee and the other council members of the request.
Requests may be submitted up to 48 hours before a council meeting.
Council members may then vote on whether to proceed with the interpellation.
Would you like to request an interpellation? Please contact the council clerk’s office.
Agenda and Order of Business
Objective
add items to the agenda or remove them from the agenda. The council may also determine the order of the agenda.
What
The council decides whether items are to be voted on or discussed at the council meeting; it may place incoming documents on the agenda for discussion and submit a request to amend the agenda to the council clerk’s office.
How
The committee chairs decide on the order of the agenda during their consultation with the council clerk’s office.
During committee meetings, the council determines whether council proposals will be considered as A, B, or C items during the council meeting.
Objective
changing the course of the meeting.
What
an oral motion regarding the order of business for the meeting.
How
Council members submit a procedural motion orally to the chair.
The council decides whether to adopt the motion.
Statements or decisions regarding policy
Objective
amending a decision and/or a proposed ordinance, plan, and/or policy document.
Example:Further Development of the Moerdijk Tourism Fund
What
a direct amendment proposal submitted to the chair.
The council decides on amendments by a majority vote.
How
Submit the amendment to the chairperson either orally or in writing.
The proposed amendment must be word-for-word reproducible in a resolution. An amendment typically consists of findings, recitals, and a resolution.
Would you like to submit an amendment? Please contact the registrar’s office.
Objective
express feelings about a topic (such as the three well-known motions: a motion of condolence, a motion of censure, or a motion of no confidence) or issue a directive to the municipal executive. Example: Motion to Reevaluate the Permit for the Schuurfeest
What
A proposal or expression of views on a topic. This topic may or may not relate to an agenda item. The council decides on motions by a majority vote.
How
Submit the motion in writing to the chair. A motion typically consists of findings, considerations, and a resolution (a request, call to action, or ruling). Would you like to submit a motion? Please contact the clerk’s office.
Objective
Put a proposal of one's own on the agenda and request a decision on it.
What
a comprehensive proposal that is ready for a decision.
How
Please contact the City Clerk’s Office regarding this matter. Through the City Clerk’s Office, you can obtain external and/or administrative assistance in drafting the citizen-initiated proposal.
Once the proposal is finalized, you must submit it in writing to the chairperson.
The executive board may, within 20 business days, bring any written requests or objections regarding the proposal to the attention of the council. After the 20-business-day period has elapsed or following a decision by the executive board, the initiative proposal will be placed on the agenda for the next council meeting.
Support
Objective
Researching information and facts; providing support in the use of tools.
What
A substantiated written request for administrative assistance or support.
How
Submit a request to the court clerk’s office, including a justification of the time required and the desired expertise. The council will decide on the request.