REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2011

AS many as six councillors refused to sign a confidentiality agreement before entering a briefing with Allconnex Water, as a major revolt within

Gold Coast City Council threatened to culminate in a fiery confrontation.

Other councillors said they will not attend the meeting in protest against an attempt by Mayor Ron Clarke to gag them.

Allconnex chief executive Kim Wood and board chairman John Dempsey were to deliver their much-anticipated water pricing proposal for 2011-12 behind closed doors.

Along with Cr Clarke, they insisted councillors who attend must sign a confidentiality agreement.

The stipulation fractured the council, with many councillors vowing they would attempt to attend the briefing but would refuse to sign the agreement.

Councillors Peter Young, Dawn Crichlow, Margaret Grummitt, Jan Grew, Eddy Sarroff and Susie Douglas all indicated they would not sign.

Cr Daphne McDonald said she would protest against the closed nature of the meeting by not attending.

Coolangatta councillor Chris Robbins, who called for the briefing to be open, also declined to attend.

Cr Bob La Castra said he would sign the agreement and attend the briefing for his community, while councillors Donna Gates, John Wayne, Greg Betts and Ted Shepherd did not return calls to the Bulletin.

Cr Grant Pforr, when contacted for comment, responded: ‘‘Just leave me out of it’’, before telling the Bulletin he would no longer speak to the newspaper.

The revolt set the scene for a fiery confrontation, with confusion surrounding what the consequences would be if the councillors are denied entry to the briefing.