Mayor Tom Tate’s biggest challenge: How to handle three councillors

Tensions have erupted at Gold Coast council after changes that have gone down like a lead balloon with some senior figures. This is who’s in and who’s out.

Tom Tate’s biggest challenge in this record fourth term as mayor will not be funding for the trams. It’s the City’s change in power rankings, and how to manage three councillors.

Despite the smiles after the swearing in ceremony, two councillors were privately fuming.

Nerang-Pacific Pines councillor Peter Young is now seated to the far left edge of the councillor table – not quite a dog kennel distance to the kitchen away but close enough.

He wanted to be Deputy Chair of Planning, wrote to the Mayor, talked up his 20 years on the committee and tertiary qualifications in urban and regional planning.

“I believe I offer a perspective and opinion that helps achieve balance in our considerations and decision making and I believe that I have the confidence of many groups in the community who we will ultimately want to engage with on the rebuilding of the Town Plan,” he wrote.

Newly-elected Robina councillor Dan Doran got the Deputy gig.

Councillor Peter Young at the swearing in of councillors with Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: Glenn Campbell.

Asked about this, Cr Young told your columnist: “I feel this was part of a huge stitch up orchestrated by the Mayor, supposedly to provide new councillors experience but arguably designed to curry favour and secure their allegiance.”

The Mayor says he consulted with the Chairs to get their views on suitable Deputies.

“In the case of Planning and Regulation Committee, Councillor Doran was put forward. I am sure he will do a great job,” he said.

“I consulted with all councillors about their preferred committee placements, and I note Cr Young was placed on the three committees he asked for whereas many councillors did not get the committees they precisely asked for.”

Cr Young believes the seating arrangement – being in the doghouse – is deliberate.

Councillor Peter Young — moved to the edge of seating. Picture: Jerad Williams.

“Only Cr Tate could say for sure why he did that but it’s common knowledge of councillors who are seated on the edges that attempts to be recognised by the chairman (the Mayor) to offer input to the meeting debate are almost always ignored,” he said.

The Mayor strongly disagrees, saying he tried to pair new councillors with experienced councillors where possible so they can provide support on meeting procedures.

“This is consistent with previous terms of council and I will look at the seating plan again later this term,” he said.

Deputy Mayor Donna Gates faces the media, after the vote to appoint Mark Hammel in 12 months. Picture: Glenn Campbell.

The second councillor is Deputy Mayor Donna Gates. She will continue in that role for the next 12 months until Cr Mark Hammel replaces her.

Cr Gates is a loyal deputy, but as an independent – wait for strong views in the chamber.

The third is Brooke Patterson, who finds herself in the penthouse. She has long coveted the role of chair of the Governance, Administration and Finance Committee (GAF).

Cr Brooke Patterson after being sworn-in as councillor for the new council. Picture: Glenn Campbell.

But Cr Patterson in her first term battled with Anzacs and the homeless in the CBD. A colleague, on her appointment as GAF chair, remarked that “Brooke is prone to gaffes”.

Previous chair William Owen-Jones was one of the smartest tools in the shed that is the City Chamber. He rarely sprinted out to do media or record a personal video.

GAF deals with all the hot and conflicted City items. Upstairs in the mayoral office and in CEO Tim Baker’s office across Bundall Road, this committee will be required viewing.

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Originally published as Mayor Tom Tate’s biggest challenge: How to handle three councillors