Three councillors who resigned to contest the NT Election intend to return to Alice Springs Town Council

WHICH Alice Springs councillors who resigned to contest the NT election last month want their spots on council back if they don’t get elected?

Six of the councillors elected in the 2017 Alice Springs Town Council elections, from left: Jamie de Brenni, Eli Melky, Jimmy Cocking, former mayor Damien Ryan, Matt Paterson, and Jacinta Price. Photo: EMMA MURRAY

• Mayor apologises after motion to adopt policy to fill casual vacancies gets ‘out of hand’
• Alice Springs Town Council could hold an additional meeting each month to address ‘inefficiencies’

AT least three of the four Alice Springs councillors who resigned to contest the NT election will apply to be reinstated to council.

Former deputy mayor Matt Patterson and councillors Catherine Satour and Marli Banks all confirmed they would apply to the council chief executive within seven days of election results being known, requesting to be reinstated.

Former mayor Damien Ryan did not respond to questions.

In a meeting on Monday night, councillors deferred a motion to consider a policy that stipulates requirements to fill casual vacancies after past elected members have returned.

Part of the plan put forward at the meeting by mayor Jamie de Brenni was to co-opt two new council members during the meeting, but it was dismissed.

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Mr Patterson said he was “glad the motion was deferred until everyone is back”.

“I don’t know why the rush to have the policy put forward,” Mr Patterson said.

“If we are to look at co-op members in the future I would think it’s appropriate to go back to the previous ballot from 2017, not cherry picking.”

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Mr Patterson said he was “very excited” to go back to council.

Former Deputy Mayor Matt Paterson and former Mayor Damien Ryan. Picture: ANTHONY GEPPA

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