Dissent brews over council numbers

The future number of Bunbury city councillors remains unclear with a motion for a referendum to be debated during next week’s meeting.

Mayor Gary Brennan put the issue on the agenda soon after his election, saying he believed the number of elected members should be cut from 13 to nine.

The council is set to vote on a plan to reduce the number of councillor positions, over the next two elections, at Tuesday’s meeting.

The South Western Times has been told at least six councillors are prepared to vote against the proposal.

Cr Karen Steele will ask for a referendum on the issue, fearing the public’s views have not been taken into account.

She was concerned not enough people knew about the proposal and said everyone she had asked was opposed to it.

“They are scared if we reduce numbers then only a certain group of people will be on council, ” she said.

Deputy Mayor Brendan Kelly has declared he will oppose the proposal because of a concern of a loss of representation.

“Any reduction in the number of councillors will harm the interests of electors, ratepayers and residents, ” he said. “The right to access a diverse city council in a growing community is fundamental to local democracy.”

During Tuesday’s night briefing session, chief executive officer Andrew Brien was quizzed about the process and costs of holding a referendum or a phone poll.

Council staff have told councillors the results of public consultation were not statistically valid.

There were about 20 submissions and about 130 responses to an online survey, with most rejecting the proposal.

In a report to councillors, council staff said there had not been a reduction in representation in other local governments which had cut the number of councillors.

Mr Brennan has previously argued for the need to reduce the numbers of councillors, saying boards of companies had about nine members.