Simple request turns into a fiasco!

After nine months as a Councillor at Shoalhaven you would think that I would not be surprised by much. Last Tuesday however made me laugh so hard at how the Brothers Grim (Guile and Ward) can turn a simple request for a sub-committee into a roaring political grandstanding session.

I chair the Climate Change Committee who's charter is to 'Guide Council's response to community concern and exposure to risk regarding the potential impacts of Climate Change'.

Council staff thought that Councillors could be interested in participating in a sub group that looked at the risks to council assets and how mitigation could be integrated into asset management plans. For the amount of noise that my support for this request created- you would have thought that a vast amount of money had been requested. Accusation of 'political grandstanding' and trying to force the hand of councillors to 'bow to the god of climate change' bounced around the chamber. The brothers grim even suggested that the motion was to paint them as climate change deniers and part of the development dozer set-this is what made me laugh the most as there was no accusing going on- just themselves painting their own picture! Ward went on to say 'some people thought it good governance to create a committee, but to get things done you should just abolish committe and get on with the job'.

The Mayor joined in asking if we had a committee to look at the impacts of the Y2K issue, another asked if the asset of paper and pens would be included and councillors expected to waste their time risk managing these.

So it was with these attempts to belittle the process, intimidate, grandstand and generally carry on like children that made me laugh and be surprised that the request could be argued with so much vitriol.

So if you're looking for cheap entertainment I highly recommend coming along to a council meeting some day soon!