The roles of municipality councilor in local development : A case study of
the municipality in the five southernmost province of Thailand
บทบาทสมาชิกสภาเทศบาลในการพัฒนาท้องถิ่น : ศึกษากรณีเทศบาลใน 5 จังหวัดชายแดน
ภาคใต้
Athon Kuravon, Asst. Prof., D. of Public Ad., F. of Management Sci., PSU.
Grant : Prince of Songkla University
Published : Research Report
Key words : municipality councilor, local development, southern border province
The main objective of this research is to study the role of municipal councilor in local develop-ment from the point of view of the municipal councilor, the permanent municipal employees, and eligible voters. The sample groups of this study consist of 55 municipal council members, 49 perma-nent municipal employees, and 412 eligible voters. A chi-square test is utilized in the analysis of the data collected from questionnaires. The result revealed the following :
1. Role of Municipal development planning. It was found that municipal council members
play a role in municipal development planning considered in a high and highest level of every area
of that plan. But in the point of view of permanent municipal employees, it was found that the muni-cipal council members have a role of reflecting the problems to the municipal cabinet only, and have a role in the consideration and approval of the annual municipal development plan. In these research studies, it was found that the municipal council members play a role in the level of high and highest (level). But in the other parts considered in the level of low and lowest.
2. Role of Checking and Controlling municipal administration. It was found that. In the point of view of the municipal council members, they play a role in checking and controlling municipal administration in the level of medium and trend to high level. But in the point of view of the perma-nent municipal employees, it was found that the municipal council members play a role in this area
in the medium level and trend to low level.
3. Role of Approval of the municipal law. It was found the municipal council members play
a role in these activities considered as medium level and trend to low. These outcome results were
from point of view of both the municipal council members and the permanent municpal employees.
4. Role of Encouraging political participation with local people, it was found that in the point of view of the municipal council members, they play a role in this area considered in the level of high and medium level respectively, but in the point of view of eligible voters, it was found that the mu-nicipal council members play a role of this above in the midium and low level which its outcome
results was opposite.
5. The relationship between independent variables. There was no relationship between independent variables of politics within the municipal council, social environment, local culture and the local development role played by the municipal councilors. However, the differences between the
level and kind of municipality had a relationship with the local development role played by the mu-nicipal councilors.
6. Problems faced by municipal council members in the local development and suggestions.
It was found that municipal council members experience two areas; at problems in the municipality development; personnel involved with municipal administration, and governmental decentralization policies. The suggestion to improve the role of municipal council members is as follows. The sample group believes that rules and regulations governing municipal administration should be amended.
More or training to enhance the understanding of the municipal administration should be arranged
for the municipal council members.
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