The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) Council on Monday approved the draft assigning roles and delegating powers to the Council and Standing Committees under the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Body (TNULB) Act, 2023.

According to the civic body, these rules were already being followed but will now be recorded officially. The monetary limits set out in the Act have not yet been specified in this draft, the GCC said. The draft outlined which authority can approve particular decisions.

Matters such as the disqualification of the Mayor or a councillor, resignation of the Mayor, or a no-confidence motion against the Mayor or Deputy Mayor, will go directly before the Council.

There are six Standing Committees — Taxation, Works, Education, Public Health, Accounts, and Town Planning Proposals. For instance, issues such as measures to control the stray dog population will require the clearance of the Public Health Committee, while water supply and sewage pipeline connections will need the nod of the Taxation Committee, before being presented to the Council.

For certain projects, approval from two or more committees may be required. For instance, roadworks assigned to the Corporation, the maintenance of waterbodies, and the construction and upkeep of public toilets will need the concurrence of both the Works and Taxation Committees before being placed for the Council’s approval. In such cases, proposals must first be placed in the order mentioned in the regulations. In the above case, first before the Works Committee and then the Taxation Committee, according to the rules.

If differences in approving a project arise between committees, they may submit a statement to the Mayor through the Corporation Commissioner. The matter will then be brought before the Council for resolution. Until the Council grants approval, the Corporation Commissioner cannot take any action on the matter concerned, the regulations state.

Notably, in May 2023, councillors from various political parties complained that the GCC Council had lost powers following the implementation of the new rules common for all urban local bodies in the State. Before this, the GCC enjoyed unique powers of local administration under the Chennai City Municipal Corporation Act, councillors had said then.