湖州市城乡居民最低生活保障实施办法
浙江省湖州市人民政府
湖州市人民政府令第24号
《湖州市城乡居民最低生活保障实施办法》已于2007年12月3日经市政府第9次常务会议通过,现予公布,自公布之日起施行。原《湖州市区城乡居民最低生活保障制度实施办法》(市人民政府令第13号)同时废止。
市长 马以
二○○八年一月三日
湖州市城乡居民最低生活保障实施办法
第一条 为了规范我市城乡居民最低生活保障制度,保障城乡居民的基本生活,维护社会稳定,构建和谐社会,根据《浙江省最低生活保障办法》,结合本市实际,制定本实施办法。
第二条 本实施办法适用于湖州市行政区域内有常住户籍的城乡居民最低生活保障家庭。
第三条 城乡居民最低生活保障制度遵循下列原则:
(一)保障基本生活的原则;
(二)公开、公平、公正原则;
(三)政府保障与社会帮扶相结合的原则;
(四)鼓励劳动自救的原则。
第四条 城乡居民最低生活保障实行地方各级人民政府负责制。
市民政部门负责全市城乡居民最低生活保障的管理工作。县区民政部门负责辖区内城乡居民最低生活保障的审批与管理工作。街道办事处、镇(乡)政府(以下统称管理核查机关)负责辖区内城乡居民最低生活保障的核查和初审等具体管理工作。
第五条 财政、劳动保障、教育、卫生、工商、统计、审计等部门,应当在各自的职责范围内负责做好最低生活保障的有关工作。
第六条 城乡居民最低生活保障所需资金,由各级政府列入年度财政预算,纳入社会救济专项资金支出项目,实行财政专户管理,专款专用。
最低生活保障资金支付,由各级财政分级负担。
第七条 财政、审计部门依法监督最低生活保障资金的使用。
第八条 城乡实行不同的最低生活保障标准。具体标准按省政府规定的低保标准动态调整机制执行。
各级民政部门应当在市政府公布最低工资标准后及时拟定调标文件,新的最低生活保障标准应于市政府公布最低工资标准后次年第二季度起执行。
第九条 基本生活消费价格上涨较快的年份,城乡低保对象按省政府出台的相关政策给予一次性基本生活物价补贴。
第十条 凡湖州市行政区域内有常住户籍的城乡居民家庭,其共同生活的家庭成员人均月收入低于政府公布的最低生活保障标准的均有申请享受最低生活保障的权利。
共同生活的家庭成员,是指依法形成赡养、扶养或抚养关系的人员。
第十一条 申请享受最低生活保障的家庭,应当按照《浙江省最低生活保障家庭收入核定办法》规定,计算核定申请人的家庭收入。
第十二条 居(村)民委员会受街道办事处、乡镇人民政府委托,受理城乡居民最低生活保障申请。城乡居民最低生活保障应按下列程序申请:
(一)由户主向户口所在地居(村)民委员会领取《最低生活保障金申请表》,并如实填写;
(二)居(村)民委员会,将申请最低生活保障的家庭名单进行公示(公示期不少于7日)后,将《最低生活保障金申请表》、相关材料及群众意见一并上报街道办事处或乡镇人民政府核查并初审;
(三)街道办事处或乡镇人民政府应当在5个工作日内完成核查工作,并将申请人名单、核查及初审意见、具体救助数额及群众评议意见等材料报县区民政部门审批;
(四)县区民政部门应当在收到报送材料后7个工作日内完成审批,对准予救助家庭发给统一印制的《湖州市最低生活保障救助证》,并将审批结果函告街道办事处或乡镇人民政府;街道办事处或乡镇人民政府书面通知申请人,并委托居(村)民委员会公布准予救助对象的名单,接受群众监督。
对不符合本实施办法规定而享受最低生活保障的,公民、法人和其他组织都有权向管理审批机关提出意见。管理审批机关应进行核查,对情况属实的,应当予以纠正;已领取的最低生活保障金应予以追回。
第十三条 申请享受最低生活保障的家庭,户主在提交书面申请时,应当同时提供下列相关材料。
(一)城镇居民:
1.户口簿及家庭成员的居民身份证(人户分离的须提供户籍所在地派出所出具的户籍证明);
2.有缴纳养老保险费、城镇职工基本医疗保险费和城镇居民合作医疗保险费的要提供缴纳凭证;
3.失业登记证明、领取基本生活费或失业救济金及享受期限的证明;
4.享受生活补助的遗属要提供遗属补助证明;
5.有法定赡养人、扶养人或抚养人的,应当提供赡养(扶养、抚养)协议或有关法律文书;
6.其他所需的有关证明。
(二)农村居民:
1.户口簿及家庭成员的居民身份证(人户分离的须提供户籍所在地派出所出具的户籍证明);
2.有缴纳养老保险费的要提供缴纳凭证;
3.享受生活补助的遗属要提供遗属补助证明;
4.有法定赡养人、扶养人或抚养人的,应当提供赡养(扶养、抚养)协议或有关法律文书等;
5.其他所需的有关证明。
第十四条 最低生活保障金数额实行差额分档补差政策,按其家庭人均收入低于当地最低生活保障标准之间的差额确定,差额少于30元的按30元发放。
最低生活保障金通过信用社、银行实行社会化发放。
最低生活保障金的发放按《浙江省最低生活保障办法》的规定执行。
最低生活保障金从批准的当月起计发。不满1个月的按1个月计发。
第十五条 城镇居民与农村居民组成的家庭,享受户籍所在地的最低生活保障。
第十六条 申请享受最低生活保障的城乡居民家庭中有子女因考入大专院校而将户籍迁至就读院校的,仍可按共同生活的家庭成员计算并享受原户籍所在地的最低生活保障。
第十七条 凡城乡居民中有劳动能力的无业人员,在享受最低生活保障期间就业(须签订一年及一年以上劳动合同)并如实申报劳动收入的,自就业之月起六个月内,其家庭最低生活保障不变。
第十八条 家庭成员的户籍不在同一街道或镇(乡)行政区域内的,应当由实际居住地有户籍并具户主身份的成员向所在地管理核查机关提出最低生活保障申请。
第十九条 因住房拆迁、征地原因而人户分离的城镇居民申请最低生活保障,户主凭现居住地派出所出具的户籍不能迁入证明,向现居住地的管理核查机关提出最低生活保障申请。现居住地的管理核查机关在完成核查、公示等程序后确认申请人符合享受条件的,应在《最低生活保障审批表》中签署意见,并将有关材料及《最低生活保障审批表》转给申请人户籍所在地的管理核查机关审核,由申请人户籍所在地的管理核查机关审核后报县区民政部门审批。审批同意后由申请人户籍所在地的管理核查机关负责发放保障金。
第二十条 凡城乡居民家庭中已成家但丧失劳动能力的子女、已成年且未婚并丧失劳动能力的残疾子女与离(退)休的父母共同生活在一起的,其父母的离(退)休金不计入家庭收入,同时其父母也不列入最低生活保障的人口。
第二十一条 户籍在规定期限内不能迁入原户籍地的归正人员,符合最低生活保障条件的可凭司法行政部门或公安部门出具的证明,向原户籍所在地的管理核查机关申请享受最低生活保障。
第二十二条 最低生活保障对象家庭户籍地发生变动,应当凭原户籍地管理审批机关出具的证明到现户籍地管理审批机关重新申办最低生活保障。
第二十三条 享受城乡居民最低生活保障的家庭人均收入情况发生变化的,应当在15日内报告所在的居(村)民委员会,由居(村)民委员会告知管理核查和审批机关。管理核查和审批机关应当按照本实施办法第十二条规定的程序和期限,进行核查、审批,办理停发、减发或者增发最低生活保障金的手续。
第二十四条 管理审批和核查机关对最低生活保障对象家庭收入情况定期进行复核,实行动态管理。可委托居(村)民委员会每月核查一次;街道办事处、乡镇人民政府每季度应核查一次;县区民政部门每季对城乡居民最低生活保障工作情况抽查一次。
第二十五条 有正常劳动能力但尚未参加工作、生产的城乡居民,在享受最低生活保障期间,应当参加其所在的居(村)民委员会组织的公益性社区服务。
第二十六条 政府各有关部门应当对享受最低生活保障的城乡居民在就业、从事个体经营等方面给予必要的扶持和照顾,鼓励其通过生产劳动脱贫自救。
第二十七条 从事城乡居民最低生活保障管理审批工作的人员有下列行为之一的,依照《浙江省最低生活保障办法》的规定,给予批评教育并依法给予行政处分;构成犯罪的,依法追究刑事责任:
(一)在最低生活保障核查、审批工作中,有意隐瞒或歪曲事实,或者违反公开原则,不接受群众监督的;
(二)擅自改变最低生活保障金的发放数额的;
(三)贪污、挪用最低生活保障金的;
(四)有其他侵害城乡居民最低生活保障权利或国家利益行为的。
第二十八条 最低生活保障对象有下列行为之一的,依照《浙江省最低生活保障办法》的规定,由县区民政部门给予批评教育或警告,并追回其冒领的最低生活保障金;情节恶劣的,处冒领金额1倍以上3倍以下的罚款:
(一)采取虚报、隐瞒、伪造等手段,骗取享受城乡居民最低生活保障金的;
(二)在享受城乡居民最低生活保障金期间家庭收入情况好转,应当办理停发、减发最低生活保障金手续,但不按规定申报收入变化的情况,继续享受原定城乡居民最低生活保障金的。
第二十九条 城乡居民认为民政部门的下列具体行政行为侵犯其合法权益的,可以依法申请行政复议;对复议决定不服的,可以依法提起行政诉讼:
(一)不批准享受最低生活保障的;
(二)减发、停发最低生活保障金的;
(三)给予行政处罚的。
第三十条 本办法自发布之日起施行。原《湖州市区城乡居民最低生活保障制度实施办法》(市人民政府令第13号)同时废止。
国务院关于口岸开放的若干规定(附英文)
国务院
国务院关于口岸开放的若干规定(附英文)
1985年9月18日,国务院
规定
随着我国对外贸易、国际交往和旅游事业的发展,将进一步开放新的口岸。为加强口岸开放的审批工作,特制定本规定。
一、本规定所指口岸是供人员、货物和交通工具出入国境的港口、机场、车站、通道等。口岸分为一类口岸和二类口岸。一类口岸是指由国务院批准开放的口岸(包括中央管理的口岸和由省、自治区、直辖市管理的部分口岸);二类口岸是指由省级人民政府批准开放并管理的口岸。
二、口岸的开放和关闭,由国务院或省级人民政府审批后公布执行。
三、凡开放口岸,应根据需要设立边防检查、海关、港务监督、卫生检疫、动植物检疫、商品检验等检查检验机构,以及国家规定的其他口岸机构。
四、两类口岸的具体划分:
(一)以下为一类口岸:
1、对外国籍船舶、飞机、车辆等交通工具开放的海、陆、空客货口岸;
2、只允许我国籍船舶、飞机、车辆出入国境的海、陆、空客货口岸;
3、允许外国籍船舶进出我国领海内的海面交货点。
(二)以下为二类口岸:
1、依靠其他口岸派人前往办理出入境检查检验手续的国轮外贸运输装卸点、起运点、交货点;
2、同毗邻国家地方政府之间进行边境小额贸易和人员往来的口岸;
3、只限边境居民通行的出入境口岸。
五、报批程序:
(一)一类口岸:由有关部(局)或港口、码头、车站、机场和通道所在地的省级人民政府会商大军区后,报请国务院批准,同时抄送国务院口岸领导小组、总参谋部和有关主管部门。
(二)二类口岸:由口岸所在地的人民政府征得当地大军区和海军的同意,并会商口岸检查检验等有关单位后,报请省级人民政府批准。批文同时送国务院口岸领导小组和有关主管部门备案。
六、报批开放口岸应附具下列资料:
(一)对口岸开放进行的可行性研究报告,以及口岸的基本条件、近三年客货运量、经济效益和发展前景的资料。
(二)根据客货运输任务提出的有关检查检验单位、口岸办公室、中国银行等机构设置和人员编制方案。
(三)检查检验场地和办公、生活设施等规划,以及投资预算和资金来源。
七、对外开放前的验收:
(一)新开放的口岸,在开放前必须对其交通安全设施、通信设施、联检场地、检查检验等单位的机构设置和人员配备,以及办公、生活设施等进行验收。验收合格后,才能宣布开放。
(二)一类口岸,由国务院口岸领导小组办公室负责组织验收;二类口岸,由所在省、自治区、直辖市口岸办公室或其他主管口岸工作的部门负责组织验收。
八、临时进出我国非开放区域的审批权限:
(一)临时从我国非开放的港口或沿海水域进出的中、外国籍船舶,由交通部审批,并报国务院口岸领导小组备案。报批前应征得军事主管部门和当地人民政府以及有关检查检验单位的同意,并安排好检查检验工作。
(二)临时从我国非开放机场起降的中、外国籍民用飞机,由中国民用航空局征得军事主管部门同意后审批,非民用飞机由军事主管部门审批,并报国务院口岸领导小组备案。报批前应征得当地人民政府和有关检查检验部门的同意,并安排好检查检验工作。
(三)临时从我国非开放的陆地边界区域进出境的中、外国籍车辆和人员,由省级人民政府审批。报批前应征得当地省军区和公安部门的同意,并安排好检查检验工作。
九、口岸开放应有计划地进行,按隶属关系分别列入国家或地方口岸开放计划。国务院有关部门和省、自治区、直辖市应将口岸开放计划(草案),于计划年度前两个月报国务院口岸领导小组,并抄报国家计委、劳动人事部和检查检验单位的有关主管部门。
十、开放口岸检查检验设施建设资金来源:
(一)中央管理的口岸,由中央负责解决;地方管理的口岸,由地方负责解决。
(二)国家新建开放的港口、码头、车站和机场(含军用改为军民合用的机场)等口岸建设项目(包括利用外资和中外合资项目),以及老口岸新建作业区和经济开发区的新港区等项目,所需联检场地应与港口、码头、车站、机场等主体工程统一规划。所需投资包括在主体工程之内。
检查检验单位办公、生活土建设施(包括宿舍)的投资,由口岸建设项目的主管部门组织有关单位研究,统一汇总报国家计委审批。批准后,投资划拨给口岸所在地的省、自治区、直辖市,由地方统一规划,统一设计施工。军用改建为军民合用机场的口岸项目,应事先征得空军或海军同意,如在机场内建设,建设单位可提出要求,由空军或海军统一规划。
(三)各部(局)直属的原有港口、码头、车站和机场需要对外开放时,所需联检场地,原则上要利用原有建筑设施。如确需扩建、新建,应由港口、码头、车站和机场的主管部门投资建设。检查检验单位的办公、生活土建设施(包括宿舍)的投资,原则上由各自主管部门解决。对确有困难的,国家或地方给予适当补助,由地方统一建设,投资交地方包干使用。
(四)地方新开口岸,所需联检场地和检查检验单位的办公、生活土建设施(包括宿舍),由地方统一投资,统一建设。
(五)国际海员俱乐部的建设规划和投资来源,比照(二)、(三)、(四)项规定解决。
(六)检查检验单位所需的交通工具、仪器设备等,由各自主管部门解决。
(七)联检场地内,划给检查检验单位的办公和业务用房(包括水、电、市内电话),应由港口、码头、车站和机场(包括军民合用的机场)的经营单位免费提供。
十一、本规定由国务院口岸领导小组办公室负责解释。
十二、本规定自发布之日起施行。
PROVISIONS OF THE STATE COUNCIL ON THE OPENING OF PORTS
Important Notice: (注意事项)
英文本源自中华人民共和国务院法制局编译, 中国法制出版社出版的《中华人民
共和国涉外法规汇编》(1991年7月版).
当发生歧意时, 应以法律法规颁布单位发布的中文原文为准.
This English document is coming from the "LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA GOVERNING FOREIGN-RELATED MATTERS" (1991.7)
which is compiled by the Brueau of Legislative Affairs of the State
Council of the People's Republic of China, and is published by the China
Legal System Publishing House.
In case of discrepancy, the original version in Chinese shall prevail.
Whole Document (法规全文)
PROVISIONS OF THE STATE COUNCIL ON THE OPENING OF PORTS
(Promulgated on September 18, 1985)
With the development of our foreign trade, international exchanges and
tourisms, more ports will be opened. These Provisions are formulated in
order to strengthen the work in the examination and approval for opening
ports to foreign countries.
1. The term "ports" referred to in these Provisions denotes the harbours,
airports, stations, thoroughfares, etc., which are used for personnel,
goods or means of transport to enter or leave the country. The ports in
our country are divided into two categories. Category-1 ports refer to
those ports which have been opened upon the approval of the State Council
(including those administered by the Central Government and some of the
ports administered by the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities
directly under the Central Government); category-2 ports refer to those
ports which have been opened upon approval by the people's governments at
the provincial level and are administered by them.
2. The opening and closing of ports shall be announced and executed after
the examination and approval by the State Council or the people's
governments at the provincial level.
3. Organs in charge of frontier inspection, Customs, harbour
superintendency, quarantine, quarantine for animals and plants, commodity
inspection, etc., as well as other port organs stipulated by State shall
be set up at the open ports according to the actual needs.
4. Criteria for the division of the two categories of ports:
(1) The following are category-1 ports:
A. ports open to vessels, planes, vehicles and other means of transport of
foreign nationality used to transport passengers and goods into or out of
China through sea, land or air;
B. ports for use only by Chinese vessels, planes and vehicles transporting
passengers and goods out of or into the country through sea, land or air;
C. spots on the sea within our territorial waters where vessels of foreign
nationality are allowed to enter or leave for the purpose of delivering
goods.
(2) The following are category-2 ports:
A. spots for loading and unloading, starting shipment and delivering goods
for Chinese vessels engaged in foreign trade where the formalities for
exit and entry inspection and examination are conducted by personnel sent
from other ports;
B. ports where border trade in small amounts and contacts between people
are carried out with local governments of neighbouring countries;
C. ports restricted to the exit or entry of the local residents in the
border areas.
5. The procedures for report and approval:
(1) Category-1 ports: the relevant ministries (or bureaus) or the people's
governments of the provinces where the harbours, wharves, stations,
airports and thoroughfares in question are situated shall, after
consultation with the military area commands, submit the application to
the State Council for approval, with copies of the application sent to the
Leading Group for Port Affairs of the State Council, the Headquarters of
the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army and the relevant
competent departments.
(2) Category-2 ports: The people's governments of the regions where the
ports in question are situated shall first obtain the agreement of the
military area commands concerned and the Navy, and hold consultations with
the units in charge of port inspection and examination. Applications shall
then be submitted to the people's governments at the provisional level for
approval, with copies of which sent to the Leading Group for Port Affairs
under the State Council and the relevant competent departments for the
record.
6. The following materials should be attached to application for opening a
port:
(1) A feasibility report, the materials concerning the basic conditions of
the ports, the volume of passenger transport and freight volume in the
last three years, and the potential economic results and the prospects for
development.
(2) The plan for the establishment of such port organs as offices in
charge of inspection and examination, offices for port affairs and
branches of the Bank of China, according to the task for transporting
passengers and goods.
(3) Plans for constructing inspection and examination grounds and for
building facilities for office work and the daily life of the staff
members, as well as investment budget and source of funds.
7. Final check-up and acceptance before a port is opened:
(1) Before a new port is opened, the establishment of organs and the
provisions of staff members of offices in charge of traffic safety, for
telecommunications, combined inspection and examination as well as
facilities for office work and daily life must go through the procedure of
final check-up and acceptance. New ports may be opened only after the
facilities are finally checked and accepted.
(2) The office of the Leading Group for Port Affairs of the State Council
shall be responsible for the check-up and acceptance of category-1 ports.
The offices for port affairs in the provinces, autonomous regions and
municipalities directly under the Central Government or other competent
departments in charge of port affairs shall be responsible for the check-
up and acceptance of category-2 ports.
8. The competence for examination and approval of applications for
temporarily entry and exit at the non-open areas of our country:
(1) Applications by vessels of Chinese or foreign nationality for
temporarily entry or exit at non-open harbours or coastal waters of China
shall be examined and approved by the Ministry of Communications and
reported to the Leading Group for Port Affairs of the State Council for
the record. Before the applications are submitted for approval, the
agreement of the competent authorities for military affairs, the local
people's governments and the relevant units in charge of examination and
inspection shall be obtained, and the details of the examination and
inspection work shall be arranged.
(2) Applications by civil planes of Chinese or foreign nationality for
temporarily take-offs or landings at China's non-open airports shall be
examined and approved by the Civil Aviation Administration of China,
which, however, should obtain the agreement of the competent authorities
for military affairs. Applications by non-civil planes shall be examined
and approved by the competent authorities for military affairs. Both kinds
of applications must be reported to the Leading Group for Port Affairs of
the State Council for the record. Before the applications are submitted
for approval, the agreement of the local people's governments and the
relevant departments for examination and inspection should be obtained,
and the details of the examination and inspection work shall be arranged.
(3) Applications by vehicle and personnel of Chinese or foreign
nationality for temporarily entry and exit at our non-open border areas on
land shall be examined and approved by the people's governments at the
provincial level. Before the applications are submitted for approval, the
agreement of the relevant provincial military area command and the
department of public security shall be obtained, and the details of the
examination and inspection work shall be arranged.
9. New ports shall be opened according to the relevant State or local
plans. The competent departments under the State Council, and the
provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the
Central Government, shall send plans (drafts) of opening ports to the
Leading Group for Port Affairs of the State Council two months before a
planned year begins, with copies sent to the State Planning Commission,
the Ministry of Labour and Personnel and the relevant competent
departments of the units in charge of inspection and examination.
10. The sources of funds for building facilities for inspection and
examination at the open ports:
(1) The Central Government shall be responsible for providing the funds
for the ports under its administration. The local people's governments
shall be responsible for providing funds for the ports under their
administration.
(2) Where grounds for combined inspection and examinations are needed in
such port construction projects (including projects with foreign
investment and Chinese and foreign equity joint-venture projects) as
harbours, wharves, railway stations and airports (including those which
have been transformed from military airports used for both military and
civilian purposes) as well as in such projects as newly-built operation
areas at old ports and new harbour areas in economic development zones,
the construction of these grounds shall be incorporated into the plans of
the main projects of the prescribed harbours, wharves, railway stations
and airports. The investment needed for the construction of these grounds
shall be incorporated in the investment for the main projects. The
competent departments for port construction projects shall organize the
relevant units to carry out research on the investment structure for the
construction of the facilities for office work and for the daily life of
the staff members (including dormitories) of the units in charge of
inspection and examination and present itemized reports to the State
Planning Commission for examination and approval. After the approval is
obtained, the investment shall be transferred to the provinces, autonomous
regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government where the
ports are situated. The local people's governments shall be responsible
for the unified planning, designing and construction of the ports. Where
military airports are to be transformed into airports for both military
and civilian purposes, agreement should be obtained from the Air Force or
the Navy beforehand. In the case that the construction is to be carried
out within the airports, the units responsible for the construction may
submit draft plans, which shall be incorporated in the unified plans of
the Air Force or the Navy.
(3) Where the existing harbours, wharves, railway stations and airports
directly under the administration of various ministries (or bureaus) need
to be opened, the grounds for combined inspection and examination for
these ports shall, in principle, be set up by making use of the existing
buildings and facilities. If it is necessary to extend the original
buildings or build new grounds for combined inspection and examination,
the competent departments for the harbours, wharves, railway stations and
airports shall be responsible for the investment. The investment for the
construction of the facilities for office work and the daily life of the
staff members (including dormitories) of the units in charge of inspection
and examination shall, in principle, be provided by their respective
competent departments. In the extreme cases of difficulty with respect to
investment, the State or the local governments may provide appropriate
subsidies. The investment shall be turned over to the relevant people's
governments, which are held responsible for the completion of the
construction.
(4) The local people's governments shall be responsible for the investment
and construction of the grounds for combined inspection and examination
and the infrastructure facilities for office work and the daily life of
the staff members (including dormitories) of the units in charge of
inspection and examination, which are needed in their newly-opened ports.
(5) The construction plans and sources of investment for international
seamen's clubs shall be provided in accordance with the provisions of
Paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) of this Article.
(6) The means of transport, instruments, equipment, etc., needed by the
units in charge of inspection and examination shall be provided by their
respective competent departments.
(7) Within grounds for combined inspection and examination, the rooms for
office work and other related purposes (including water, electricity and
inner-city telephone) which have been assigned to the units in charge of
inspection and examination shall be provided free of charge by the
business units of the harbours, wharves, railway stations and airports
(including those used for both military and civilian purposes).
11. These Provisions shall be interpreted by the office of the Leading
Group for Port Affairs of the State Council.