COTTESLOE council will create list of approved sites for its sometimes controversial public sculpture purchases, however councillors will not get final say on which pieces are purchased.
“That’s an impractical way of dealing with a purchase,” Mayor Jo Dawkins said at last month’s council meeting.
In May, councillors asked staff to review a policy that governs both the buying of work from the annual Sculpture by the Sea and donated art additionally given to the town by the public.
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READ NOWThe large sculptures are then displayed on foreshores, parks and central shopping areas.
The report recommended the “highly subjective” choosing of a Sculpture by the Sea work by a panel be updated so the chief executive, who makes a final decision, is not a member of the panel.
It was recommended any decision on a donated work still go to councillors.
However, Councillor Sandra Boulter wanted sites for works selected before purchases.
Cr Boulter said all councillors should have the final nod on whether pieces from Sculpture by the Sea were bought.
But Mrs Dawkins said there was insufficient time to get all councillors’ approval or disapproval because bids for the works where held in a short time frame before the annual exhibition.
She said “more than one” bidder was often interested in each piece.
Councillors rejected Cr Boulter’s seven other attempts to change the policy, but accepted the annual register of suitable sites for new works and a list of public art in the town.
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