Characteristics of a Governance Model that is sensitive to a community's needs:

• Accessible
  Citizens will have easy access to the elected and staff decision makers who are responsible for municipal services.

• Accountable
  Elected and appointed officials will owe responsibility to the public.

• Inclusive
  The community will be recognised as an important component of decision making.

• Representative
  Citizens will be fairly and democratically represented.

• Comprehensive
  All municipal functions and services will be addressed; services will be delivered at a level communities believe to be appropriate; clear and logical responsibility for service-delivery will be identified; voluntary citizen participation will be acknowledged.

• Comprehensible
  It will be easy to understand who does what.

• Cost-effective
  Appropriate quality service will be delivered efficiently and in a manner that makes citizens feel they are receiving a reasonable return on their tax money.