Gympie Regional Council to adopt new portfolio policies, among transparency discussions

Transparency was a hot topic as Gympie councillors had a lengthy debate about how much information they are being given.

Councillor Bruce Devereaux has withdrawn his fight for transparency from council portfolios.

Gympie regional councillor Bruce Devereaux has been left “disappointed” after he pulled the plug on his fight for more transparency amid a 40 minute debate over how much information was being given.

The outspoken division 4 councillor wanted all elected officials to be invited to attend all portfolio meetings, making the request in a motion at Wednesday’s general meeting.

The motion arose at the same time as councillors were being asked to consider changes to the portfolio policy, and debate over the two items was held at the same time.

Mr Devereaux said he simply wanted to be better informed.

“I just want more information so I can be more confident in the decisions I’m making on behalf of ratepayers,” Mr Devereaux said.

Several councillors expressed similar sentiments.

Councillor Dolly Jensen said she appreciated wanting to know what was happening in portfolio meetings.

“I don’t think we should ever be prevented from learning,” Mrs Jensen said.

“I wouldn’t mind if somebody came to my portfolio meeting as an observer.”

Councillor Bob Fredman agreed, and said he wanted the right to attend meetings, should he choose to.

Mr Fredman also spoke of an Office of the Independent Assessor (OIA) complaint made against him for a question asked during a portfolio meeting.

The OIA has recently come under fire for stifling councillor’s free speech.

The amended portfolio policy was approved unanimously.

Mr Devereaux ultimately withdrew the motion and said he was satisfied the new policy left the door open for the changes he wanted to see.

Despite this, he said he was reluctant to give up the fight.

“I’m disappointed … I was told that I shouldn’t be putting it because it was coming in anyway,” Mr Devereaux said.

“Maybe by the time the next councillors come in they’ll have a better system.”

Bruce Devereaux has been outspoken in his fight for council transparency.

Mr Devereaux also brought another notified motion regarding advice from council staff, after frequent policy interruptions in last month’s meeting.

He noted the staff sitting on a raised platform tended to give off the wrong impression.

Mr Devereaux asked staff to provide any prepared advice in council agendas moving forward.

Division One councillor Jess Milne was the only councillor to dissent.

Originally published as Gympie Regional Council to adopt new portfolio policies, among transparency discussions