THE conduct of endorsed Labor Party candidates within councils is governed by the party's branch rules.

Those rules determine that a local caucus - a group of decision-makers within the branch - is established in each municipality where two or more endorsed candidates are elected to a council. This is often the case in areas with a traditionally strong Labor vote.

Councillors endorsed by the ALP must be members of this caucus and any decision, motion or opinion they put forward must be passed by a meeting of that caucus.

According to the rules, the caucus can make decisions for the endorsed councillor about the appointment of those councillors to official positions, their position on the annual council budget, and the implementation of municipal policy.

It was ALP policy not to endorse candidates in the November 2008 elections, but many elected councillors were "supported" by the party.

The Advocate asked ALP Victorian state president Stephen Newnham how party rules applied to "supported" candidates as opposed to endorsed councillors, but he did not return calls by deadline.

The rules, updated in May last year, dictate that any general business or notices of motion put forward by endorsed candidates have to be approved by the caucus first.

Rule 12.6.10 states "permission to submit such a motion must be given by the president of caucus".

The caucus would also decide who would be the mover and the seconder of any motion introduced by an endorsed candidate at a council meeting.

All meetings held by the caucus must be in private and "no member of the caucus shall divulge any information regarding the proceedings of caucus unless authorised to do so".

Maribyrnong councillors Michael Clarke, Sel Sanli and Martin Zakharov were supported candidates at last year's election.