Community input will lift councillor output

THE Gold Coast Bulletin article (January 8, 2021) “Councillor expenses revealed in new report” makes for interesting reading.

While acknowledging there must be fair remuneration for elected representatives it is also reasonable to ask: “What performance measures can the community use to gauge if we are receiving fair value for money from councillor costs?”

Potential measures should relate to the obligations required of councillors under legislation and policy.

The Local Government Act 2009 section 4 (2)(c), local government principles, requires “democratic representation, social inclusion and meaningful community engagement”.

Value 3 of the Code of Conduct for Councillors in Queensland (2020) states: “In representing and meaningfully engaging with the community, councillors will: show respect to all persons; clearly and accurately explain council’s decisions; accept and value differences of opinion.”

The obligation to deliver meaningful community engagement is clear.

However, the view of Community Alliance is this aspect of delivery, particularly the meaningful dimension, is poor and warrants substantial improvement.

Specific target measures that would really help include:

Each councillor to hold two town hall meetings each year for their division at which they provide updates on issues of significance to their community as well as answering questions on notice and from the floor.

The establishment of a Planning Reference Group with representatives from across all sectors of the community at which improvements to the City Plan and other planning policies can be discussed prior to drafting of changes which will go to full community consultation.

Two new year resolutions along these lines would certainly be welcomed by many in the community.

They will demonstrate a boosted commitment to participative representation and address the question of value for money from councillor salaries and costs.