Four of Sydney’s richest and biggest councils give themselves a break over winter
AS if a six week break of summer wasn’t enough, four of Sydney’s biggest councils — Sydney City, Ku-ring-gai, Northern Beaches, and Inner West — have given themselves a holiday over winter.
NSW
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FOUR of Sydney’s biggest and richest councils have been blasted for giving themselves long midwinter breaks.
Despite enjoying at least six weeks off during summer — as well as the usual public holidays — City of Sydney, Inner West, Ku-ring-gai and Northern Beaches councillors are all on an extended break.
At every other Sydney council it is business as usual.
Northern Beaches Council, which represents 252,878 people, will not sit between June 26 and August 28.
Clover Moore’s City of Sydney won’t have another meeting until August 13, while Inner West councillors voted to give themselves a three-week rest between meetings.
Ku-ring-gai will only have one meeting during July compared to their usual two.
Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone, whose council is meeting throughout the winter period, said the break is unacceptable.
“You need to work no matter what the temperature,” the former Labor now independent mayor said.
“Our ratepayers don’t get a midwinter break so why should we? You need to be accessible to the community at all times of the year.”
At their June 26 meeting, Inner West Council resolved to skip their July 10 meeting.
The break coincides with the school holidays, which runs from July 7-22.
Inner West Council Liberal Deputy Mayor Julie Passas said: “It’s not like we are doing hard manual labour and need a rest — we are pushing a button”.
“A lot of councillors have illusions of grandeur; this break is completely unjustified.”
A spokeswoman for Northern Beaches and City of Sydney Councils both said NSW councils are only required to meet 10 times a year.
“Factors such as school holidays and other public holidays affect the sitting schedule,” a City of Sydney spokeswoman said.
An Inner West Council spokesman blamed the councillors’ workload.
“With the election of the new Inner West Council, we now have 15 councillors representing approximately 12,400 residents each and make decisions on a local government area three times as big as previously,” he said.
“Councillors on average attended approximately five meetings/briefings per month.
“In addition to these meetings council is soon to establish a range of committee members which will add to the workload of councillors.
“Given this substantial workload, it is recommended that the council resolve to have a short two week recess between 9-20 July to allow councillors a break from the busy meeting schedule.”