07 May 2014

COUNCILS DO NOT BACK 60 PER CENT CLAIM

The following article appeared in this week's Eastern Courier. As far as I am aware Unley has not made a submission. I wrote my own last time and was happy with the outcome. It does, however, raise some interesting points for discussion.
One of the unknowns for members of the public is how much additional money is paid to Councillors as well as the allowance. Unley Councillors receive addition sitting fees for chairing committees, sitting on the Development Assessment Panel, sitting as Centennial Park Board members and for being on various Boards as Local Government Association representatives. For some individuals this might increase the stipend significantly.



No support for rises
Eastern Courier Messenger, Adelaide  by Meagan Dillon
 07 May 2014

 LOCAL GOVERNMENT

 COUNCILS DO NOT BACK 60 PER CENT CLAIM

 EASTERN councils do not support an Adelaide City Council bid for their allowances to be raised by at least 60 per cent, boosting councillors' pay to about $25,000 and $100,000 for mayors.

 Norwood, Payneham & St Peters and Unley councils say the current allowance $15,500 for councillors and $62,000 for mayors - is sufficient. NP&SP Mayor Robert Bria said there were more important issues in the community needing attention. "From my perspective, I have never measured my workload against the mayoral allowance," Mr Bria said.
 Unley Mayor Lachlan Clyne agreed, saying elected members should not stand if they were there for money. He said anyone standing in elections should be passionate about the community.
 Burnside Council Mayor David Parkin declined to comment.
 Campbelltown Mayor Simon Brewer said each council should be responsible for determining the pay packet for elected members."The thing I hate about the system is the total absence of accountability within it," Mr Brewer said.
Prospect chief executive Mark Goldstone said the sitting fees for government-appointed committees, such as the Adelaide Festival Corporation Board, should be considered. He said the "breadth and depth" of the responsibilities of elected members were larger than many government committees. Government committee fees can range from $12,000-$35,000, depending on their assets and revenue.
 In its submission, Mitcham Council calls for a sitting fee arrangement after Cr Yvonne Poland missed 34 of 40 full council meetings since July 2012, at a cost to ratepayers of at least $6000 per sitting attended.
Tea Tree Gully Council said allowances should be sufficient to attract working parents and younger people to run for council. 

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