Community Councils must represent all people in the area without prejudice. Therefore they should:
- Be non-party political and non-sectarian.
- Represent a full cross-section of the community and encourage the involvement of people regardless of gender, race, age, disability, nationality or sexual orientation.
Community Councils act as a voice for their local area. Their specific role can vary according to their local area’s needs. Their size, in terms of area and population, differs across the country.ﾠ In some areas there are Federations of Community Councils, allowing them to work together over larger areas.
They must ascertain and express the views of the community to local authorities and other public bodies, and to take action which appears to be in the interests of its community. They can complement the role of the local authority but are not part of local government. They should have a positive working partnership with the local authority - therefore they must be informed on the council’s policies, and keep the council updated on their activities.
To effectively represent their community they must be proactive in consulting andﾠ engaging with local residents.