WA Local Government Act 1995
(extract from page 18 Official Version As at 01 Jan 2026)

2.7. Role of council
(1) The council governs the local government’s affairs and, as
the local government’s governing body, is responsible for
the performance of the local government’s functions.
(2) The council’s governing role includes the following —
(a) overseeing the allocation of the local government’s
finances and resources;
(b) determining the local government’s policies;
(c) planning strategically for the future of the district;
(d) determining the services and facilities to be provided
by the local government in the district;
(e) selecting the CEO and reviewing the CEO’s
performance;
(f) providing strategic direction to the CEO.
(3) For the purpose of ensuring proper governance of the
local government’s affairs, the council must have regard to
the following principles —
(a) the council’s governing role is separate from the
CEO’s executive role as described in section 5.41;
(b) it is important that the council respects that
separation.
(4) The council must make its decisions —
(a) on the basis of evidence, on the merits and in
accordance with the law; and
(b) taking into account the local government’s finances
and resources.
(5) The council must have regard to the need to support an
organisational culture for the local government that
promotes the respectful and fair treatment of the local
government’s employees.
(6) The council has the other functions given to it under this
Act or any other written law.