EUROBODALLA Shire Council will conduct twice-yearly community consultation sessions in each of the shire’s town centres in an effort to improve relationships and trust with the community.
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Mayor Lindsay Brown proposed the idea at council’s ordinary meeting on Tuesday and his motion to hold the meetings was unanimously supported.
In his report, Cr Brown said the idea stemmed from community concern that council did not consult with the community.
He proposed that in addition to existing consultations/information sessions, the council would invite the public to meet councillors and staff to discuss matters of interest.
“I believe the community meetings should be held towards the end of September and February, in each financial year,” Cr Brown said.
“As mayor, I will chair the meetings, which would begin with presentations by staff on matters of current interest, followed by open questions.”
Cr Brown proposed that the first meetings should focus on council’s budget, priorities for the coming year, and Fit for the Future.
However, on Tuesday, councillors Liz Innes and Milton Leslight raised concerns about the benefits of such meetings.
Cr Innes asked Cr Brown if he had a plan to get “real outcomes” from the meetings, how they would be structured, and whether issues raised by residents would be acted on.
“This could become a talkfest that doesn’t really go anywhere,” Cr Innes said. “I would really like that we make sure we get good results for our community.”
Cr Brown said he agreed, and that agendas would be specific to the location and issues raised would be documented.
“The value will come out of the way the community engages with this,” Cr Brown said.
Cr Leslight said he was “an enthusiastic supporter” of engaging with the community, but wondered if residents “might be a little bit sceptical”.
He cited the meeting of 100 Batemans Bay business people earlier this year, which made several resolutions, including a vote of no-confidence in council’s executive leadership; the public meeting in Batemans Bay in May; the petition against the rates rise signed by 11,000 people; and opposition to traffic lights on North Street, Batemans Bay, which have been installed.
He said the meetings could be seen as “another waste of time”.