Lack of Democracy: hopefully just a dose of forst time nerves

Well this 'new' Council is a little bizarre.

At the very first Ordinary meeting general manager Russ Pigg changed a couple of words around that not even us seasoned Councillors picked up, which delegated authority to the Committee's. Meaning that a decision of a Committee is now the final decision and there is no further debate.

I know the following explanation sounds a little odd but stick with me.

In the previous Council a recommendation would be made at committee and then referred to the full Council for ratification. This allowed for the committee process to be a little less formal and be a 'working' meeting that ironed out any problems and find common ground for solutions. If the items warrant contentious they usually got passed without debate at the Ordinary Council meeting.

The Ordinary Council meeting is the only meeting that Councillors are impelled to go to- it is a part time / voluntary job after all. Besides Council sometimes books different Councillors out to do other things for the city making it impossible for them to attend the committee meeting. Also life outside of Council can sometimes get in the way- especially if you are employed full time.

Delegated authority isn't all bad if the item is a small item, a slight variation on a policy position, a motion seeking direction for staff, but big issues like the budget and policy decision's with a long term impact should be referred to the Ordinary meeting of Council.

The seasoned Councillors tried their best to get this situation amended to at least give a second chance to debating big issues, but this was voted down by TEAM GASH.

And so the log jams begin, because instead of delegated authority making things more streamlined and supposedly quicker which in Gash language equates to 'getting the job done'. Councillors now have to submit a recession motion with two other Councillors signing it, wait a month for it to come back to committee to see if its successfully instead of just bringing the item up to the next Ordinary meeting which is generally only a fortnight away.

So we have our Mayor and TEAM GASH being stubborn and not collegiate in this issue.

Which brings me to the issue I raised previously- The Mayors insistence on lumping multiple issue into one mayoral minute- sounds efficient- but its not - it has the same effect as delegated authority and 'hides' issues in what seems like an innocuous report. The October meeting was a great example and rolled back the Councils position of not supporting poker machines rolled into a motion that supported community groups- very poor form and not at all accountable.

TEAM GASH must have an opinion on the multiple issues that come to Council, but their desire for a speedy meeting means that we are seeing very little debate from them at all.

So I hope that its all first time nerves which shouldn't last the rest of this term. It is the same in committee, complex issues with very little questioning of the staff. For me that is exactly why I was elected - to ask questions and make sure the outcomes are the best they can possibly be.

Right now I am awaiting the outcome of a recession motion that could have been dealt with at the ordinary meeting in a fortnight on Development Control Plan 99- The development control plan is another issue so I will for a separate post.

ill keep you posted or else turn up to a Council meeting and watch the lack of debate and the hesitance of TEAM GASH's voting hands which only seem to go up like a Mexican wave-waiting to see what the TEAM member next is doing on the issue.