A call for report on councillor expenses

SHELLHARBOUR City Independent Councillor Charlie Mifsud is calling for Councils General Manager, Brian Weir to table a full report to Council on Councillors conference and seminar expenses for the past two years.

Cr Mifsuds call for the report came after a question raised by him at the September 26 Council Meeting regarding the requirement for a quarterly report on expenses under Councils Payment of Expenses and Provision of Facilities Policy.

According to the minutes of that meeting Cr Mifsud stated that he believed that according to the Payment of Expenses & Provision of Facilities to Councillors Policy Council is supposed to report every three months on the cost and number of conferences attended however this did not appear to have happened.

Also, according to the minutes, the General Manager stated that he had now read the relevant section of the policy and he did not believe any Councillors had attended any conference in accordance with that provision and that is why it had not been reported. He stated that he currently reported on Conferences to the Council in the Management Plan quarterly report and he would now include the costs, if any.

Cr Mifsud claims that since he has been a Councillor, he has not seen a report on councilor expenses for conferences and seminars.

Im not pointing the finger at anyone, I just think it is important to be transparent on issues such as Councillor expenses, Cr Mifsud said.

In the two years I have been on Council, I find it hard to accept that no Councillors have attended any conferences or seminars.

Im asking Mr Weir to table a report in accordance with Councils policy, to cover the whole two year period where no such reports appear to have been produced.

It is my duty as a Councillor to help make sure the community is kept informed of expenses of this nature and it is important that as Council we are accountable for these types of expenditures.

Commenting on Cr Mifsuds call for reporting on Councilors conference and seminar expenses, Mr Weir said that Councillors are advised of conferences and cost details before the event so an informed decision can be made regarding attendance. He said that Details are also reported in quarterly management reports, with financial details added to the annual report and yearly financial statement figures. All of these documents are reported directly to Councillors.

A council spokesperson said that while cost and expense information for all Councillors has traditionally been lumped together for reporting purposes, now that Cr Mifsud has requested individualised detailed reporting, on a quarterly basis, this could be accommodated.

The spokesperson said that any councillor is entitled to access to information on the expenses of any or all councillors at any time if they choose.