Snippets from Gold Coast City Council meetings

Meeting 457 - 3rd September 2007

The councillors demonstrated once again just how out of touch they are with the community.

They debated the approval of an increase from $3,300 to $6000 in the payment for a feasibility study for a proposed Gold Coast Marching band.

When Councillor Crichlow rightly challenged the payment, particularly as she claimed there were already three marching bands on the coast, she did not receive a straight answer to her questions. It seems, according to her, that the council officer named as the contact officer knew nothing about the payment. The department head responded that wasn't unusual as officers often did not know about a matter until after Council had debated it.

Of more concern however was that nobody either couldn't, or wouldn't, tell her exactly who was to receive this money.

The CEO commented that $6000 was a relatively small amount in the context of Council's budget. Further, the Council may advance even more money towards the supply of equipment etc. at a later stage.

It is appalling that the Council REFUSED to disclose the name of the recipient of these funds, particularly as they are for a FEASIBILITY STUDY for something which duplicates existing organizations.

I'd like the council to explain to the six or more householders who have to struggle to find the money to pay the rates that is to finance this feasibility study that their rates payments are inconsequential in the overall scheme of things with the Council.