AS expected, the Notice of Motion put forward by Councillor Nathan Clark to eliminate the position of Mayor and Deputy Mayor was defeated on Monday night – but not without acknowledgement that innovative thinking is needed in local government.
After introducing Cr Clark’s motion, the subject was up for debate, with Cr Ned Jeffrey saying Council continues to push for new ideas, despite this one not being supported.
“We have pushed as a councillor group, the need for innovative thinking. The current state of local government is an unsustainable one; it’s one that has already come to a head for a number of councils across Victoria and continues to come to a head for all those remaining, I think,” he said.
“So, it would be unfair if Cr Clark wasn’t given an opportunity to talk about some innovative ways, and that is both within Council and across the local government sector as a whole.
“On this occasion, I don’t support this particular level of innovation; it’s a little bit beyond where I stand, but we do need, as an industry, and as a council, to think more innovatively, and I wouldn’t like to see any idea squashed before they’re given ample opportunity to be heard.”
Cr Bob Cornish said this while this was a new way of thinking, it wasn’t quite time for the subject to be brought to a head yet.
“I think, as explained, it does not meet the requirements of the current Local Government Act, and as such, maybe such discussion should be held in some other forum over many, many weeks, maybe months, in a year or two before anything becomes of it,” he said.
“It’s certainly thought-provoking, but the current system is not perfect, it’s a system that we are legislated to operate under.”
Cr Claudia James said it would simply be a waste of time, while acknowledging the need to think of new ideas.
“I support both Cr Jeffrey and Cr Cornish have said, but I do want to add that I don’t think it’s responsible for us to ask the Council officers to spend their time researching this, because I think we know what the outcome would be already. I think it’s a waste of Council officers’ time,” she said.
Cr Bob Humm had a viewpoint where he said it would prevent the population growth in the bottom end of the Shire from completely taking over.
“I do find that, yes, it’s well worth thinking of, I think of the state government that tell us what we can and can’t do all the time. It’s good to see that councillors are prepared to think somewhere outside the box,” he said.
“I think it’s well worth the consideration, we may say that it’s too early, we have a lot of people saying at the moment out there throw all councils out, let the state take over.
“I think if it came in, it would cover any situation where the lower end of the Shire takes over the top end of the Shire, so I think it’s well worth having the debate and considering where it goes to from here.”
Cr Clark said while he knew he wouldn’t have the numbers, he felt he was now ‘off-leash’.
“It’s encouraging. I feel like now, without the support of my fellow Councillors, and running it through officers for advocacy, I’m off leash, and I can operate outside the bounds somewhat to let this become a personal project of mine on the side,” he said.
“While I might not be representing the position of Mitchell Shire, I can probably feel even more free and liberated in taking this to other councillors through local government across Victoria.”
The motion was defeated, one vote for to seven against.
