Council spending needs to be clear

A detailed report outlining Baw Baw Shire councillor allowances, travel, meals and benefits has been sought by Cr Danny Goss who said “let the ratepayers be the judge.”

At Cr Goss’ request, the report must detail consultant fees, caterings costs, courses and training fees as well as costs associated with the “new mayor and councillor lounge.”

The report was unanimously supported by all seven councillors present at the meeting. However, context behind councillor spending was urged.

Cr Goss emphasised “this is not a witch hunt” and “I’m not suggesting there is anything impropriety or going on that shouldn’t be...in fact, I’m 100 per cent sure there’s not”.

However, he said ratepayers had a right to know how their hard-earned money was being spent “to know what is going on and who is spending what”.

“Ratepayers are getting sick of councils spending money. We should be different here, we should hold ourselves to a higher standard.

“Councillors, here’s your chance to show ratepayers that transparency is real here and it’s not tokenism,” he said.

Cr Goss’ general business motion was initiated following a series of questions from resident Don McLean at a previous council meeting.

Cr Goss said he, along with many community members, was shocked by answers provided to Mr McLean revealing council had spent more than $18,000 in one-day for a confidential councillor briefing session.

“A briefing I didn’t attend because, as I said at the time, I believed it to be a waste of time, money and resources,” he said. “And I still think that.”

In his motion, Cr Goss called for a report outlining services and benefits provided to councillors since the beginning of the current council term.

He requested costs and breakdowns for individual councillors and the group as a whole.

The report will include: Consultant fees, venue hire and catering in respect of councillor governance, welfare and personal development;

Detailed costs of the new mayor and councillor lounge;

Detailed costs of meals provided to councillors at briefings and at council meetings;

Detailed individual costs of monetary and other benefits provided to councillors including councillor allowances, other allowances, vehicle travel, air fares, accommodation, childcare, meals whilst travelling, phones and IT services; and

Detailed individual costs of any courses and training undertaken by councillors which did not form part of a scheduled briefing day.

The report will be presented to council no later than Wednesday, July 12.

Cr Darren Wallace said the report was simply “a fact finding mission” and councillors were not above scrutiny.

He said it was timely given revelations brought forward by Joe Gauci during his recent resignation.

“If we are to run an open and transparent external review into allegations raised by (former) Cr Gauci which centre around the integrity of council officers, then I say what’s good for the goose is good for the gander,” Cr Wallace said.

“Are we, as councillors, spending ratepayers’ money correctly? I don’t know. I bet we are, but let’s open the books.”

Declaring “it’s all about transparency”, Cr Peter Kostos said he supported Cr Goss’ motion but did not necessarily agree with all of his comments.

He said items like a phone and internet connection were required to do their job.

“Why not get this out in the public...so that they can fully understand where their money is going but also the reasons why that money is being spent,” Cr Kostos said.

Cr Michael Leaney said councillor expenses were reported as part of the annual and quarterly reports. He supported the report for transparency but emphasised the need for “nuisances and realities” to be included.

For example, Cr Leaney said he recently travelled to Canberra as part of a Peri Urban Councils Victoria delegation.

He chose to drive seven hours rather than fly to Canberra due to the $550 oneway airfare. He also selected a motel within walking distance of Parliament House and which had free carparking.

“Whenever I travel and whenever I look at things, I look at ways that we can save council money,” Cr Leaney said. “And I hope that that will be identified in the report.”