It’s increasingly acceptable to shame someone about their flying habits. File image
Camera IconIt’s increasingly acceptable to shame someone about their flying habits. File image Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Pandemic grounds Stirling CEO’s travel plans

Laura PondStirling Times

CITY of Stirling chief executive Stuart Jardine has cancelled planned international travel because of the Covid-19 pandemic but another ratepayer-funded trip is still on the cards.

Council approved a trip worth $8922 for Cr Keith Sargent to attend the Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress in Los Angeles from October 4 to 8 at its February 25 meeting.

At the same meeting, Mr Jardine gained approval to attend the Transforming Local Government annual conference in Arizona from May 5 to 8 at a cost of $4485 but he has since cancelled.

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A City spokesman said it continued to monitor changing travel advice and was reviewing staff and elected members’ travel “on a daily basis”.

Cr Sargent proposed to attend the LA conference to enable him to see technology best practice and better understand how other cities combated transport issues.

Costs comprised $4985 for eight nights accommodation, equivalent to $623 per night, $1890 registration fee and $2047 for economy airfares.

Stirling governance manager Jamie Blanchard said councillors could claim expenses within their biennial conference allowance, which equated to $9050 annually.

The accommodation chosen was the “cheaper of the two options” presented to Cr Sargent.

He told Community News previously responses were based on government advice.

“The City continues to monitor the situation and has business continuity plans ready to implement if the advice from the WA and Commonwealth governments changes,” he said.

“Scenarios include planning for changes to travel and events for City staff and elected members if this is required based on advice.”