‘Flaw’ in Claremont argument

In an email to the elected members last Thursday, Mr Pickard said he suspected councillors had received incorrect information about what would trigger polls on boundary adjustments.

Claremont deputy mayor Bruce Haynes is concerned that wording in the WALGA State Council agenda for September 3 ” ‘through the Association’s normal decision-making processes’ ” would leave a final decision on what will trigger a poll to the State Council rather than local councils, as agreed on at the August 6 WALGA AGM.

Cr Haynes said the easiest solution was for the State Council to rescind ‘the offending motion’ from a July 2 WALGA meeting that ‘ensured small councils did not have the right to determine their own fate’.

This Thursday he will present two items at the WALGA central zone meeting ” one that State Council endorse not making the decision about what triggers a poll and a second to rescind the July 2 motion.

Cr Haynes presented an urgent item at last week’s Claremont Council meeting suggesting the Town withhold about $27,000, which is due tomorrow, from WALGA until after the State Council meeting, provided it does not affect their insurance cover that is included in the membership.

Cr Peter Browne was a lone voter against the motion because he wanted more time to consider it. Cr Paul Kelly declared a financial interest in the item so did not vote.

Mr Pickard said Claremont would lose member entitlements, including insurance through LGIS, if they chose not to pay the membership fee and were subsequently terminated.

He said the motion raised at the recent WALGA annual general meeting did not differ from the association’s initial stance on amalgamation.

‘The AGM motion asks the State Council to reinforce its formally adopted position of giving the community a say in significant boundary adjustments,’ Mr Pickard said.

‘The motion merely seeks further definition of the word significant.’