Palerang Council is among many in NSW unsure of its future after submitting its response to the ‘Fit for the Future’ proposal to the NSW Government last Wednesday.
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Council had submitted that it did not want to amalgamate and stood by its own assessment of financial sustainability. Surrounding councils were also against amalgamation, however Queanbeyan Council did raise an option to partition part of Palerang.
Subsequently, Palerang Council met for an Extraordinary Council Meeting last Thursday to discuss a Notice of Motion from Cr Peter Marshall on taking legal advice over the process which could see forced amalgamations.
Cr Marshall’s motion that Council: 1. Council immediately instruct legal advisers for the purposes of seeking an injunction to prevent or reverse the illegal dismissal of Palerang Council if that occurs or is announced. and 2. So as to minimise the costs to Palerang ratepayers, Council seek to conjoin any such legal action with that of neighbouring Councils and/or Local Government NSW; was lost after a passionate debate from councillors.
Cr Morrison said “It’s not the bureaucracy that is pushing this, this is a political push, it is coming out of the Premier’s office. This is an outcome driven by a process. This (motion) is about proper process...about protecting this community.”
Cr Hicks said “this is fairly crazy stuff. The decision hasn’t even been made. “
Cr Hogarth Boyd responded “This proposal is to make sure that there is a due process. If the council is dismissed and the process isn’t followed we can’t get legal advice as we don’t exist. “
Cr Cockram spoke against saying “it’s one where the mover didn’t put any effort into checking the numbers. My conclusion is that this motion is set up to fail. It’s absurd that we would risk spending ratepayers money.”
Cr France reminded the council what they are all there for. “ This council has become so party political it is sickening. You were elected to represent the people of Palerang, not the people outside the shire and its about time some of the councillors really got back to the basics.”
“What is this council about - its about local government. It’s not about the NSW right left or whoever. I don’t give a damn about them and 90% of the ratepayers don’t either. They care about where they live, their community.
“I’m not sure if I like the motion. I don't want to give that open cheque book to some legal advisor, but I don’t want to be forced into an amalgamation that we went through ten years ago. ..If we amalgamate we are not doing the right thing for our constituents” said Cr France.
Mayor Harrison said he couldn’t feel comfortable about asking ratepayer effectively to sign an open cheque for legal advice.
If the community thinks that we are worth saving then it should be up to the community to save us. It shouldn’t be up to us to spend their money on the assumption that we are worth saving.”
Cr Marshall said “It’s already been said that we should sit back and wait for the decision but when the decision is made you don’t get to do anything as in fact your not even a councillor any more.”
The Vote was: For Marshall, Morrison and Hogarth Boyd. Against Hicks, Cockram, Schweikert, Harrison. Cr France did not vote.