Gold Coast City Council: Big changes planned for council committees after election

Expect big changes when the newly-elected Gold Coast City Council meets today. While the Deputy Mayor will remain the same, there are going to be several other reshuffles.

DONNA Gates is expected to appointed Deputy Mayor and Cameron Caldwell retain the chair of the powerful planning committee when the newly-elected council meets today.

An agenda for the post-election council meeting, which starts at 9.30am at the Evandale chamber, reveals it will begin with an address from Mayor Tom Tate, the appointment of the Deputy Mayor and composition of the various committees.

Deputy Mayor Donna Gates in last minute talks with the Mayor Tom Tate and Cameron Caldwell before a meeting begins. Picture Glenn Hampson.

The Bulletin understands councillors spent much of yesterday on their mobile telephones discussing various preferred options offered by Councillor Tate.

The first full council meeting will be live streamed like others but journalists prevented from attending the media room due to COVID-19 precautions.

As councillors spent much of yesterday checking their office technology to ensure they would be part of the debate, one of the largest discussion points was the position of acting mayor.

Both Cr Caldwell and Robina’s Hermann Vorster are considered leaders for the position when Cr Tate and Cr Gates are absent from the city, but transport committee chair Pauline Young remains an outside chance.

Council insiders believe the make-up of the committee will be an early test of Cr Tate’s leadership with four new councillors elected after the March 28 poll.

Rookie councillors Mark Hammel, Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden, Brooke Patterson and Darren Taylor are not expected to gain committee chairs.

Councillor Peter Young during the recent poll. Picture: Jerad Williams.

Councillors Peter Young, Daphne McDonald and Glenn Tozer, critics of the Mayor’s pet cruise ship terminal project in the last term and did not support his re-election, can expect diminished roles in the new council.

“There is a suggestion that the Mayor will suggest (to the new councillors) that Cr Tozer, Cr Peter Young and Cr McDonald be shut out from any major committee role,” a council insider said.

“The biggest change will be the return of the governance committee. Councillor William Owen-Jones is expected to return as chair of that. In the absence of the mayor and deputy mayor, it is difficult to know who will be acting mayor.

Councillor Glenn Tozer during the poll. Picture: Jerad Williams.

“Donna will be elected unopposed as deputy. I don’t think anyone is going to challenge her. It is doubtful anyone would have the numbers with four new faces. In this climate, everyone wants stability. But expect councillors Peter Young, McDonald and Tozer to be shut out.”

While veteran Dawn Crichlow has retired, considered one of the mayor’s most outspoken rivals in the last administration, the chamber is predicted to be lively.