Councillor Ross Grove

Recent council reports demonstrate that Councillors who attend large numbers of committee meetings are more inclined towards becoming “punch-card councillors” who whilst showing up on Council statistics as present, contribute very little to the proceedings or to the reform of local government as a whole, Holroyd Liberal Councillor Ross Grove said today.

The statistics come from a report called for by Labor’s Greg Cummings on Councillor attendance at meetings throughout the last year, however the report was inconsistent with the performance benchmark he set for the previous year which included figures on qualitative activity such as Notices of Motion and Questions Without Notice.

“I suspect he left these figures out because his own mob haven’t been performing too well this year,” Clr Grove said. “It is true that they’re showing up and getting their cards-punched as ‘present’ but when you look further it doesn’t seem like the ratepayers of Holroyd have much to show for it.”

As a result Councillor Grove and Independent Councillor Mark Pigram both asked for the buried figures on Councillor performance to be released.

“The new figures show what us exactly what we’ve been living and breathing all this year. Not just the quantity – but the quality too.”

“It shows that Liberal Councillors are naturally more proactive than our counterparts. We’re more likely to set the agenda in Council, more likely to move Notices of Motion and more likely to question the status quo if the need should arise.

“Labor Councillors on the other hand are more likely to be respond to the agenda set by unelected Council officers – and that’s not to say that they don’t work hard in their own way – but it does indicate they might not be trying to make a difference as much as we are.

“Since our election in September 2008 Liberal Councillors have actively pursued a number of initiatives which include, but are not limited to:

• Protecting consumers from shonky operators in the building industry

• Increasing the flexibility of Council’s Tree Management Order, which are most rigid in the state

• Demonstrating true and relevant community leadership in a bipartisan fashion by providing in-principle support to the West Metro

• Lobbying the state government to examine policies regarding the health impact of high-energy drinks on the youth of Holroyd.

“Instead of using council resources to dig up dirt on your opponents I suggest Labor Councillors come up with a more positive and proactive agenda. With the Labor-backed mayor to support Liberal councillors on key issues of Council business, it is becoming clear that it is not just the ratepayers who are sick of their shenanigans.”

–ENDS–

Media contact: Ross Grove on 0412897130