Section 20 in Bihar Urban Local Body (Community Participation) Rules, 2013
20. Activities of the Ward Committee.
- The activities the Ward Committees shall be:(1)Preparation of a Calendar. - At the first meeting of the Ward Committee for each budget year, the Ward Committee shall decide upon specific obligatory agenda for each of the monthly meetings of the Ward Committee, for the remaining months in that year, in addition to the specific obligatory agenda for the first meeting of the following budget year.Nothing in sub rule (1) shall prevent:(i)the convener of a Ward Committee from adding additional agenda for any meeting of the Ward Committee with the approval of the Chairperson.(ii)any other member of the Ward Committee, at a meeting of the Ward Committee, from moving a resolution to add to the specific obligatory agenda 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 - (i) A Ward level budget calendar shall be prepared annually In accordance with, Schedule I. The Ward Committee shall ensure that the budget calendar is strictly' adhered to and prepare the budget for their Ward six weeks before the Municipal budget. The Municipality may suggest changes that may be effected into the Ward level Budget after discussion with the Ward Committee.(ii)The Municipality budget shall(a)aggregate all the Ward budgets which have been prepared in accordance with Rule (i) of this Rule.(b)have additional account heads for specific receipts and expenditures at the municipality level(4)Maintenance of Accounts and Constitution of the Ward Finance Committee. - (i) A committee of three persons shall be constituted in every Ward as the Ward Finance Committee.(ii)The constitution of the Ward Finance Committee shall be through nomination held within one month of the constitution of the Ward Committee. The chairperson shall nominate the members of Ward finance committee.(iii)The Ward Finance Committee shall also appoint from amongst themselves, one person as the Chairperson who shall be the authorized signatory for maintenance and use of accounts.(5)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 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 on activities of the Ward.(iii)The Ward Finance Committee shall ensure that all funds transfers from this account shall be made out to appropriate account heads of the municipality.(iv)The Ward Finance Committee shall present accounts every 3 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 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.(6)Penalties. - (i) Non-compliance of the provisions of (2) (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 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.(7)Perusal of Bills. - (i) For every expenditure, the members of the Ward Committee shall make requisition for the required amount from the Chairperson and will present bills for the expenditure incurred.(ii)The Chairperson shall make available the sum so requisitioned having regard to the budgetary allocation.(8)Accounts of the Area Sabha and Ward Committee should be audited annually and reports presented in the annual general meeting of each of such unit, besides internal audit by municipality and quarterly simple reports.
