Council seeking 40% rate hike splurge on food, grog

The huge amount Northern Beaches Council spends on catering at its council meetings and events has been revealed, after it hiked rates by 39.6%.

A Sydney council proposing a 40 per cent rate rise is splurging more than $140,000 a year on food and alcohol for official meetings and events.

New documents also reveal Northern Beaches Council has spent $1 million on grog and catering alone since they amalgamated in 2016.

The expense was used for council meetings, briefings and community events including exhibition openings.

A source confirmed it was common for councillors and senior staff to gorge on curry, pasta, steak and a serving of pudding for dessert in their Dee Why chambers, with beer and wine provided after general meetings.

It comes after the council voted to request a 39.6 per cent rate increase from the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART). The decision, if approved, will hike residential rates by an average of $678 a year per resident or $1600 for small business.

The meeting in Dee Why last Tuesday night attracted hundreds of angry ratepayers, who yelled “resign” and “shame” as councillors debated the proposal.

Councillor Vincent De Luca described the catering budget as “disgraceful”.

“I am horrified. It is absolutely disgraceful the council is spending this amount of money on food and grog. It’s hypocritical they want to whack rate payers a 40% increase but happy to allow this extravangence”Cr De Luca said.

The total spend on catering by Northern Beaches Council was $141,798 for the 2023-2024 financial year, including $2700 for alcohol.

Council staff have recommended a 39.6 per cent rate increase for “financial sustainability” due to a black hole of more than $90 million relating to construction costs, COVID-19 and natural disasters.

Hundreds of residents rallied at Northern Beaches Council in Dee Why. Picture Thomas Lisson

Analysis of the council’s financial records reveal it recently posted an operating surplus of $14.9 million, excluding grants and contributions.

The council boasts 111 executives, managers and directors, costing $25 million. The CEO, Scott Phillips, is on a package of $540,000. Its total wage bill for more than 1300 staff is $160 million, representing roughly 40 per cent of total expenses. Ratepayers also cover a $3.3 million cost for vehicles.

Last week Mr Phillips wrote to councillors claiming his frontline staff had been “abused” and “spat on” in response to the giant rate hike.

Originally published as Council seeking 40% rate hike splurge on food, grog