Are we getting value for money from councillors?
As reported, councillors voted themselves a 2.5 per cent pay rise following the minister’s approval last December of an increase in mayoral and councillor allowances.
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I note Councillor Flack has declined accepting the increase and instead has requested a 10 per cent reduction in his allowance. A very commendable decision.
In addition to the allowances for councillors approved by the minister, the City of Greater Bendigo Reimbursement Policy provides:
- The use 24/7, plus maintenance and payment of fuel for both private use and council duties for the mayor.
- A compound (pool) vehicle for councillors to attend conferences or for meetings outside the municipality.
- Information technology, including software and equipment (laptops and printers), on an as needs basis, 50 per cent of the councillors internet costs and IT car kits.
- Training and development $5000 per annum for the first two years and $3000 per annum for the second two years. These amounts may be exceeded when a majority of councillors agree that specific development needs cater for a councillor.
- Payment of professional membership fees where there is a direct benefit to the councillor.
- Unlimited conference and seminar attendance costs (registration, conference dinner and meals during the conference, transport to and from during attendance and accommodation costs of the councillor if the event is greater than 50km outside of Bendigo) that are relevant to a councillor’s official civic duties within the municipality. A limit of $2000 per annum per councillor applies to conferences held outside of the municipality.
- The $2000 does not apply to the mayor and there are no mayoral limits applied when attending in an official capacity.
- Spouses costs are met when attending official council functions.
- Travelling allowances, including use of private vehicle, parking, accommodation, meals and incidentals and mileage allowance, when on council business. The mayor does not require approval of council to travel interstate. Overseas and interstate costs comprising airfares, accommodation, visas, passport costs car hire, taxis and meals will be covered where the visit is approved by council.
It seems councillors really are pretty well rewarded and reimbursed for their costs. What about the ratepayers?
This might appear trite to some, however, in a report to council on December 15 2015, shows that the cost per councillor in the City of Greater Bendigo at that time was $76,118. If we multiply that by the nine councillors we get about $685,000 per annum. That is a lot of money.
The state average for all councils was $47,565. Our councillors get almost $29,500 more. One may ask what do we really get for that expense? Is it time for the Auditor General to investigate?
Colin Burns, Strathfieldsaye
Recycled Bendigo Creek plan hits a snag
I wonder if City of Greater Bendigo strategic manager Trevor Budge has done any homework on his plan to use the Bendigo Creek trail transporting people from Crusoe Reservoir all the way to Huntly, because if he has he would find some years ago we were informed that the current trail from Howard Street would continue all the way to the Huntly/Epsom Regional Reserve so the children from the Epsom Primary School could ride safely to the reserve.
This idea was strongly pushed by one particular councillor and we were advised by him that this would happen even with the weed problem in the creek and the erosion of the creek bank and we are still awaiting this path. It appears once again the same ideas are re-hashed in a different format just to keep someone employed.
