Adelaide City councillor hits back at Thursday committee meeting

It’s the race that stops the nation, but has it also stopped the council from meeting?

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An Adelaide City councillor has hit back at a decision to have a committee meeting on Thursday, rather than it’s scheduled day – Melbourne Cup day.

The council will this Thursday night hold a “special” committee meeting, despite committee sessions usually being held on a Tuesday.

Cr Rob Simms said the meeting, special or not, should have been held tonight and was just a way to help councillors wanting to attend “boozy” Melbourne Cup events.

“This should not be the race that stops the city council … other councils are meeting,” Cr Simms said.

“I know that tradition for some on Melbourne Cup day is a long, boozy lunch – but ultimately it’s a celebration of exploitation of animals.”

The council holds committee meetings on the first and third week of the month and formal meetings on the second and fourth – all on a Tuesday.

In the coming weeks, Cr Simms will call on the council to meet on Melbourne Cup day next year, if it needs to meet that week.

Prospect Council will hold a workshop for its elected members tonight, while West Torrens and Campbelltown will have meetings.

Deputy Lord Mayor Houssam Abiad believed the Melbourne Cup had no bearing on the decision to hold the committee meeting on Thursday.

“There was always no meeting scheduled this week, to my understanding,” Cr Abiad said.

“The special council meeting is … just to discuss a specific issue.

“You know sometimes how we have one Tuesday off in a month – this is when it is and it just happened to be the timing.”

Adelaide City Council chief executive Mark Goldstone said elected members did not ask for any meetings to be moved.

“When council approved the meeting schedule for this year, there was no ordinary meeting scheduled for this week,” Mr Goldstone said.

“This additional meeting has been scheduled to help manage the busy workload as we approach Christmas.”

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At Thursday’s meeting, the committee will discuss its city access strategy, city wide business strategy, a heritage plan and, in confidence, the future of 88 O’Connell St.

Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor was contacted for comment.