City Hall secrecy stoush
Push for public register of all mayoral directives
GOLD Coast City councillors say they are being kept in the dark about important policy decisions issued by Mayor Tom Tate – and they are having an effect on their suburbs.
The mayoral directives can range from the renaming of a park to calling for a review of major environmental strategies.
The communication breakdown at City Hall was revealed when Hinterland councillor Glenn Tozer pushed for a public register of all mayoral directives issued verbally or in writing by Cr Tate. He also wanted these directives listed within 24 hours of issue to provide “an element of accountability and transparency”.
Councillors first privately raised concerns in late 2017 and in February last year the Bulletin reported the Crime and Corruption Commission had received a complaint that included a copy of all directives from November 22, 2012 to November 1, 2017.
At Tuesday’s full council meeting, Cr Tozer said the State Government was considering changes to the Local Government Act as part of the Belcarra reforms which could make the directives redundant.
“However, until that time, I think this is a good step in the right direction to make sure we work together on all of the actions of council,” he said.
But Cr Tate told him: “The rush to be the first council ahead of Queensland Government, I put to you, I think you should leave it to them.”
The Mayor added that if Cr Tozer wanted transparency, the council should release a list of councillor requests.
But Cr Tozer, who was supported in debate by Cr Peter Young, said a councillor request was a “query” and did not have the added weight of a mayoral directive.
Cr Tozer estimated that the list of mayoral directives by Cr Tate “totals more than 60”.
Cr Tate said he could not support releasing some directives as they were commercial in confidence or staff matters.
As an example, Cr Young said a mayoral directive had been issued that consultation on the draft public transport plan should not proceed.
“That’s the kind of stuff I’d like to know about,” he said.
Cr Tate told Cr Young: “You just can’t pull one item out. I can pull a lot of items about you and go ‘bang’.”
Cr William Owen-Jones said the communication of the directives was an issue and “you can only ask to see what you know has been issued”.
“I can tell you there have been at least three occasions where there has been a mayoral directive that has been issued directly in relation to a Division Two matter that I’ve been unaware of,” he said.
Cr Tate said the issuing of mayoral directives was to “progress the interest of the city further” and because “you want to get things done”.
After Cr Tozer’s resolution failed, all councillors supported a resolution from Cr Cameron Caldwell that CEO Dale Dickson bring forward a report addressing mayoral directives.