TOWN of Cambridge mayor Keri Shannon’s push for greater transparency has hit another wall.
Trying to live up to her campaign promise, Ms Shannon put forward a motion at the May 24 council meeting for the Town to establish an online register of financial, proximity ad impartiality interests by council members and staff.
A proposed accountability and governance page would feature mayor and council sitting fees, allowances and meeting attendances per member, fees, allowances and expenses for positions obtained by virtue of their role on council and then umber of employees with salaries more than $100,000 or more by directorate.
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READ NOWIt would also include the existing gift, hospitality and travel registry.
Ms Shannon’s argument was the Town should raise the bar when it came to transparency.
Councillor Corrine MacRae was fiercely against the motion, questioning if she would have to declare personal trips to Mandurah.
“It is so over the top; will this really assist us to make better decisions?” she said.
“This is over disclosure; it is so big it is meaningless.”
Ms Shannon’s motion lost.
Local governments across Perth have assessed transparency in light of controversy over City of Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi being found by the Corruption and Crime Commission that she failed in her duty to declare gifts and travel.
City of Vincent staff considered breaking away from the WA Local Government Association after Mr Carey’s proposal to strengthen transparency was voted down.
A report found it not financially beneficial for the City to quit its membership.
The City of Nedlands quit the association in 2013 over its position on council amalgamations.