Activities of the Ward Committee

This Section mentions the activities to be performed by the Ward Committees These activities are: (1) Preparation of a Calendar- At the first Meeting of the Ward Committee for each budget year, the Ward Committee shall decide upon specific obligation agenda for each of the monthly meetings of the Ward Committee, remaining in that calendar year, in addition to the specific obligation agenda for the First Meeting of the following budget year. Nothing in Sub-Section (1) of the Section 16 shall prevent: (a) The convenor of a Ward Committee from adding additional agenda meeting of the Ward Committee; (b) Any other of the Ward Committee may, at the meeting of the Ward Committee, move a decided upon for the meeting in question or any subsequent meeting. (2) Preparation and compilation of plans- The Ward Committee shall prepare the Annual Ward Plan and forward the same to the concerned Municipality for its integration with the Annual Municipal Plan. (3) Preparation of Ward Budget- (a) A Ward-Level Budget calendar shall be prepared annually in accordance with Schedule I. The Ward Committee shall ensure that the Budget for their ward 6 (six) week before the Municipality may suggest changes that may be affected into the Ward-Level Budget after discussion with the Ward Committee. (b) The Municipality budget shall (i) aggregate all the Ward budgets which have been prepared in accordance with Sub-Section 3 (a) of this Section (ii) have additional account heads for specific receipts and expenditures at the municipality level. (4) Maintenance of Accounts:- (a) Constitution of the Ward Finance Committee- A Committee of 3 (three) persons shall be constituted in every Ward as Ward Finance Committee. (i) The constitution of the Ward Finance Committee shall be through nomination held within 1 (one) month of the constitution of the Ward Committee. The Chairperson shall nominate the Ward Finance Committee. (ii) The Ward finance Committee shall also appoint from amongst themselves, one person as the Chairman, who shall be the authorised signatory for maintenance and use of Accounts. (b) Functions and Duties of the Ward Finance Committee:- (i) The Ward Finance Committee shall prepare the Annual Budget for the Ward and place it before the meeting of the Ward Committee which will deliberate upon and approve the Budget. The Budget shall be presented by the Ward Finance Committee within 7 (seven) months from the closure of the previous financial year. (ii) The Ward Finance Committee shall also maintain Ward-Level Bank Accounts for all the Receipts and Expenditure activities of the Ward. (iii) The Ward Finance Committee shall ensure that all out of funds transferred shall be made out of this Account to appropriate Account Heads of the Municipality. (iv) The Ward Finance Committee shall present A 3 (three) months at the meeting of the Ward Committee. (v) The Ward Finance Committee shall prepare a Quarterly Report of the financial transactions of the Ward Committee which shall include details of its Receipts and Expenditures and also its projections and suggestions for the next quarter. This Report shall be made available to every member of the Ward Committee 1 (one) week prior to the designated meeting for discussion of the Report. (vi) The Report of the Ward Finance Committee shall be made available for public scrutiny. (c) Penalties- (i) Non-compliance of the provisions in 16 (4)(b)(i)-(vi) above would incur penalty for the concerned member in default. (ii) The Chairperson of the Ward Committee shall take appropriate action including penalty to the Ward Committee member after giving adequate notice in writing and reasonable opportunity to be heard to the nominee; Provided that if the Chairperson of the Ward Committee deems it necessary to impose a fine or other such penalty, the decision shall come into force only upon it being approved by a majority vote at the meeting of the Ward committee: Provided further that the power to impose penalty shall not extend to the dismissal of the concerned Ward Committee member. (d) Perusal of Bills:- (i) For every expenditure, the members of the Ward Committee shall requisition the required amount from the Chairperson and will present bills for the expenditure incurred. (ii) The Chairperson shall make available the sum so requisitioned in keeping with the budgetary allocation. (4) (b) (i) The Ward Finance Committee shall deliberate upon and approve the Budget. The Budget shall be presented by the Ward Finance Committee within 7 (seven) months fiom the closure of the previous financial year. (ii) The Ward Finance Committee shall also maintain Ward- Level Bank Accounts for all the Receipts and Expenditure activities of the Ward. (iii) The Ward Finance Committee shall ensure that all out of funds transferred shall be made out of this Account to appropriate Account Heads of the Municipality. (iv) The Ward Finance Committee shall present Account within 3 (three) months at the meeting of the Ward Committee. (v) The Ward Finance Committee shall prepare a Quaterly Report of the financial transactions of the Ward Committee which shall include details of its Receipts and Expenditures and also its projections ans suggestions for the next quarter. This Report shall be made available to every menber of the Ward Committee 1 (one) week prior to the designated meeting for discussion of the Report. (vi) The Report of the Ward Finance Committee shall be made available for public scrutiny. (c) Penalties- (i) Non- compliance ofthe provisions in 16 (4)(b)(i)-(vi) above would incur penalty for the concerned member in default. (ii) The Chairperson of the Ward Committee shall take appropriate action including penalty to the Ward Committee member after giving adequate notice in writing and reasonable opportunity to be heard to the nominee; Provided that ifthe Chairperson of the Ward Committee deems it necessary to impose a fine ot other suchpenalty, the decision shall come into force only upon it eing approved by amajority vote at the meeting of the Ward committee: Provided further that the power to impose penalty shall not extend to the dismissal of the concerned Ward Committee member. (d) Perusal of Bills:- (i) For every expenditure, the members of the Ward Committee shall requisition the required amount from the Chairperson and will present bills for the expenditure incurred. (ii) The Chairperson shall make available the sum so requisitioned in keeping with the budgetary allocation. (5) Supervisory Mechanism (a) The Municipality shall take up the responsibility of providing administrative and infrastructure support to the Ward Committee for its proper function. (b) The Ward shall create mechanisms for Checks and Balances over the Government personnel in their Ward. Ward Committees shall have the power to recommend to the competent authority for imposition of penalties in respect of a Government employee for misconduct and negligence of duties. (6) Ward Development: There shall be Ward Information and statistics Committee which shall be formed for various Development and planning works. The constitution and functions of the Committee are given below. (a) Constitution ofthe Ward Information and Statistics Committee: (i) A committee of 3 (three) persons shall be constituted in every Ward as the Ward Information and Statistics Committee. (ii) The Constitution of the Ward Information and Statistics Committee shall be through nomination by the Chairperson held within 1 (one) month ofthe constitution of the Ward Information. Provided that members of the Ward Finance Committee shall not be members of the Ward Information and Statistics Committee. (iii) The Ward information and Statistics Committee shall also appoint from amongst themselves 1 (one) person asthe Presiding member who will preside over the meetings of the Ward Information and Statistics Committee. (b) Duties ofthe Ward Information and Statistics Committee. (i) It shall be the duty of the Ward information and Statistics Committee to compile, maintain and update annually the following information about the Ward inthe format prescribedby the concerned Minicipality for this purpose. Such infonnation shall include: (A) Economic Information including the number and nature of commercial establishments in the Ward and employment data in these establishment. (B) Information relating to Land Use includes the changes in patterns of land use, data relating to public spaces and civic amenity sites, traiEc patterns ans public transportation hubs and preservation and restoration of environment, natural resources and heritage sites. (C) Infrustructure Index including the extent of development, current and pending projects, and the inhstructureal requirement of the Ward. (ii) The Report prepared in accordance with Sub-section (6) (b) (B) shall be used by the Ward Committee in determining and enforcing the Zoning provisions. It shall be made available on a quarterly basis to the meetings of the Ward Committee, reflecting changes since the presentationofthe previous Report. (iii) The Report prepared in accordance qith (6) (b) (C) above shall be used by the Ward Committee in allocation of development expenditure by the Ward Finance Committee. It shall be made available on aquarterly basis to the meetings ofthe Ward Committee, reflecting changes since the presentation of the previous Report. (iv) Spatial planning :The Ward Committee shall: 1. Participant in all Development Plans ofthe city 2. Enforce Zoning and Land Use Regulations 3. Participate in the creation and enforcement of the new instruments like Transferable Development Rights, etc. (c) Penalties (i) Non- compliance of the provisions in 16 (6) (b) (i)- (iv) above would incur penalty for the concerned member in default. (ii) The Chairperson of the Ward Committee shall take appropriate action including penalty to the Ward Committee. Provided that, ifthe Chsllrperson ofthe Ward Committee deems it necessary to impose a fine or other suchpenalty, the decision shall come into force only upon it being approved by amajority vote at the meeting ofthe Ward Committee. Provided further that the power to impose penalty shall not extend to the dismissal of the concerned Ward Committee member. (7) Comprehensive intervention for urban poor activities: The Ward Committee shall be responsible for: (i) Integrating all existing activities undertaken by the Government; (ii) Preparing and maintaning beneficiary list for all the programmes and schemes undertaken by the Government in co-ordination withthe relevant Government agencies; (iii) Preparing a Report on the Housing with the relevant and Public Distribution System in each Ward. (8) Ensure Universal access for selected public services: The Ward Committee shall be responsible in ensuring universal access in selected public services likes Education, Health Care, Water Supply and Sanitation. (9) Alternative options Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision, (a) Ward Committee shall be responsible for decentralized management of the following fimctions: i. Primary collection of Solid Waste Management and decentralized management of Solid Waste; ii. Desilting of drains; iii. Maintenance of street lights; iv. Maintenance of park; v. Deweeding of paths; vi. Road works including construction, maintenance and restoration of and; vii. General beautification of the locality. (b) The Ward Committee shall be specifically empowered to examine various alternative implementation options in the above mentioned areas; The proposal with respect to the alternative implementation options by the local communities and shall be submitted to the Ward Committee and shall be taken up for discussion at the next meeting ofthe Ward Committee.