During my years of service as a city councillor, I was a steadfast advocate for the essential principles of transparency and accountability. These values were not just theoretical ideals to me, they were practical tools that guided my actions and decisions. They are fundamental to effective governance and crucial in building a strong, trusting relationship with the public.

1. Promoting Transparency and
Accountability as a Councillor
The Importance of Transparency and Accountability
During my years of service as a city councillor, I was a steadfast advocate for the essential
principles of transparency and accountability. These values were not just theoretical ideals to
me, they were practical tools that guided my actions and decisions. They are fundamental to
effective governance and crucial in building a strong, trusting relationship with the public.
Implementing Transparency
Transparency, as its name suggests, is about making the operations, decisions, and processes
of a government entity visible and understandable to the public. It is about peeling back the
layers of bureaucracy to expose the reality of governance.
As a councillor, I took concrete steps to promote transparency in our council's activities. One of
the key ways I did this was by ensuring that council meetings were open and accessible to the
public and that all important documents were available to anyone who wished to view them.
This wasn't just about physical access, but also about making sure these documents were
comprehensible to the layperson. I worked diligently to ensure that our decision-making
processes were not just transparent, but also understandable, providing citizens with a clear
view into how we arrived at our decisions.

2. Upholding Accountability
Accountability, on the other hand, is the responsibility of elected officials to answer for their
actions. It is the acknowledgement that public servants are, first and foremost, servants of the
public and that they must be answerable to the people they serve. To uphold accountability, I
made a conscious effort to be responsive to the concerns and inquiries of constituents. This
meant not only listening to their concerns but also taking responsibility for decisions I made,
whether they were popular or not.
I was always open to criticism and feedback, understanding that they are essential aspects of
accountability and improvement. In addition, I supported measures that held other council
members accountable for their actions. This included advocating for rules and regulations that
fostered a culture of responsibility and integrity within the council. I believe that accountability
should not be a selective practice, but a standard that all council members should adhere to.
Enhancing Communication and Engagement
Promoting transparency and accountability also meant working to improve the channels of
communication between the council and the public. I made it a priority to actively engage with
residents through various platforms such as town hall meetings, newsletters, and social media. I
aimed to ensure that they were not only informed about the council's activities but also had an
opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns.
Regular Audits
One of the key initiatives I pushed for was regular audits of the council's operations. These
audits were not about finding fault, but about ensuring that public funds were being used
effectively and responsibly. They served as an important check on our activities and helped us
identify areas where we could improve.
The Ongoing Commitment
Promoting transparency and accountability is an ongoing commitment. It requires constant
vigilance, openness to criticism, and a willingness to make improvements. As a retired
councillor, I encourage those who step into the arena of public service to prioritise these
principles. They are not easy to uphold, but they are essential for fostering trust between the
council and the public, and for ensuring effective governance.
Written by Daniel Martin Councillor