The Municipal Council is elected directly by the public for a period of six years during the municipal elections. It serves a legislative function: It acts as the "parliament" of the municipality.
The number of municipal councillors varies according to the population of the municipality in question. For the municipality of Braives, there are 17 councillors including the members of the Municipal Assembly.
At the start of each term of office, the future municipal councillors are invited to take the oath in a public session of the Municipal Council.
The Municipal Council is obliged - in accordance with the Code of Local Democracy - to meet at least ten times a year and whenever required to do so at the request of the Municipal Assembly.
The Municipal Council meets in public except when it is dealing with personal matters relating to individuals.
Responsibilities:
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The council nominates and dismisses civil servants (municipal secretary, receiver, municipal employees, and teaching personnel).
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It governs all of the municipality's affairs and deliberates all matters submitted to it by higher authorities. Certain decisions need to be approved by the executive power before they take effect (exception: The government of municipal taxes).
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It establishes its regulations of internal order.
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It enacts the ordinances of the police.
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It has the power to create municipal committees.
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It can establish advisory boards and define their remit
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It administrates the municipality's woods and forests under the supervision of higher authorities.
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It draws up the location conditions of municipal properties.
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It passes the communal budget (the record of all the expenditure and receivables planned for the next year) and draws up the municipal accounts.
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It chooses the procedure and fixes the conditions for work, supply, and service contracts.
Form of sessions
Items that are not on the agenda cannot be discussed at sessions of the Municipal Assembly. Exceptions may be made in cases of urgency when requested by two-thirds of the members present.
Publication of acts
The regulations and ordinances of the Municipal Council are published by the mayor.
Such regulations and ordinances take effect on the fifth day following their publication unless specified otherwise.
A special register is held to communicate information on the essential facts and dates of publication.
Note also that any acts passed by the municipal authorities may not contradict acts passed by the federal, regional, or community authorities.