Will Mayor make new pup a deputy

WHO are the top dogs in council? Which Gold Coast councillors are off-side with the Mayor? A quick answer – it’s as changeable as the cyclonic weather outside the chamber.

Donna Gates through almost two terms has been Mayor Tom Tate’s stable, sunny deputy, filling in capably as Acting Mayor when he was away. She was ill, a rare absence from this week’s full council meeting.

Planning chair Cameron Caldwell and Robina rookie Hermann Vorster, both serious LNP players, are now closer to the Mayor. He remarks publicly how he emails them with advice.

“I think Tom has galvanised around Hermann, and Hermann has galvanised around Tom, in a view to a succession plan,” a council insider said.

“And then you have Cameron getting support from Tom for his political career outside of council.”

Once touted a future mayoral contender, Cr Caldwell has nominated for preselection in Moncrieff, the city’s safe federal Liberal seat after Steven Ciobo announced his retirement.

“I think Tom has since supported Hermann as his future deputy, and expects loyalty as a result. I don’t know if Donna wants to continue (as deputy),” the council insider says.

What happened to Cr Gates? She was outspoken recently during debate in the council chamber, gaining support from colleagues about how embarrassing the northern entrance lights on the M1 were in her division at Yatala. When the Mayor put up his proposed traffic congestion-busting taskforce, Cr Gates spoke against it. This pet project was put together by “the mayoral office”.

Cr Gates and “the mayoral office” are no longer on speaking terms. So what happens next?

The Mayor is unlikely to leave the city until May, for a potential sister city trip. He could then continue to run the city as its leader, even if overseas.

But councillors are sensing a political move. A mayoral minute could suggest a new deputy. All councillors would vote.

Outside of the so-called “leadership group”, Cr Gates will find Helensvale’s William Owen-Jones, Mudgeeraba’s Glenn Tozer, Southport’s Dawn Crichlow, Palm Beach’s Daphne McDonald and Nerang’s Peter Young.

At the end of full council, Cr Owen-Jones stood up with a surprise recommendation. He asked that the CEO, Dale Dickson, compile a report to advise on whether committee meetings could be taped.

Only full council meetings are live streamed and recorded. At committee, just the recommendations are noted. The Mayor is not required to attend as councillors bounce ideas.

What’s the motivation, the Mayor asked Cr OwenJones. The Helensvale-based councillor only gave a brief explanation, and no context.

“Just recently there was a conversation about something that may or may not have been said at committee, and would have been able to be resolved if it was taped,” he replied.

A complaints register shows councillors are being called out for alleged misbehaviour after making public comments. Complaints are not just from ratepayers but within their own ranks. Cr Owen-Jones gained super majority support. Those in favour supported his concerns about their remarks being taped and on public record.

One wonders how Cr Gates would have voted?

Of course, all this talk about the Deputy is just speculation. For the record, Cr Caldwell sided with Cr Owen-Jones. Cr Tate and Cr Vorster were recorded in the negative. They voted together on other issues at the meeting. They’re on the same page, same team.