Port Stephens councillor Jaimie Abbott has responded to community concerns that only qualified people should stand for council after she expressed an interest in undertaking professional development.
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Cr Abbott had approached executive members of Port Stephens Council with her desire to undertake the Australian Institue of Company Director's Course at a cost of $7700.
The budget as it stood only allowed for a maximum of $2000 in training each year.
The matter was put to councillors on Tuesday night when Cr Abbott said she considered it her responsibility to represent the community in the most effective way possible.
"This course is the gold standard in organisational governance and the staff were delighted by my interest," she told council.
"To quote the general manager, he said he ‘thought this course should be compulsory for all councillors."
In other council news:
Cr Abbott pointed to changes to the Local Government Act in 2016 that emphasised the importance of professional development in decision making "serving the best interests of ratepayers".
She sought support from her fellow councillors to have the council review the current training policy and make available cost-effective in-house training options, as well as external training opportunities.
"The point has been repeatedly made that council is a $1 billion organisation and the continuous development is not just a very good thing but is something that we are expected to do under changes to the local goverment act," she said.
"Some members of the community have welcomed the idea of more councillor training while others have said that people should not run for council if they do not already have this qualification.
"Everyone has the right to nominate for council as it makes sense for new faces to work hard and bridge our knowledge gaps.
"We should be supported – not condemned – for being open about wanting to learn more to be effective councillors."
Cr Arnott supported the motion.
“It is incredibly important that we're getting the best training possible to be able to serve communities and I think that has to be balanced against the need to be fiscally responsible,” he said.
“That’s why I think its a good move that we support looking for causes that support what we are doing and are affordable.”
Cr Arnott said he shared a Fairfax story to social media that flagged the issue prior to Tuesday.
"Like councillor Abbott there were a few interesting comments in the community,” he said.
"Some of the comments ranged from, ‘if it’s part of the job requirements, then it’s acceptable’ through to 'there are better things to spend the money on'."
Cr Paul Le Mottee said that being a councillor should be no different to any other profession where regular training was a necessity, such as for doctors and lawyers.
"I've always found it odd that councillors didn't have to so I'm pleased that Local Government Act is starting to mandate some level of competence," he said.
"You can get some absolute garbage courses that are so irrelevant that come down to some collecting money so having someone [within council] identify the courses that are beneficial is helpful to councillors and the community.”
The motion including the amendments, as moved by Cr Abbott and seconded by Cr Arnott, where carried. Under a revised policy Cr Abbott and the other councillors would have the opportunity to attend the seminar but the motion as passed does not specifically authorise her to attend.
The amended motion as passed:
1.Note that the 2016 amendments to the Local Government Act 1993 requires councils to improve opportunities for professional development of all councillors as a strategy to improve decision making and performance of councils serving the best interests of ratepayers.
2.Requests council staff review the current training policy for councillors and recommend how it can be updated to better reflect the 2016 amendments to the Local Government Act 1993.
3.Requests further advice be provided to councillors about training opportunities offered by the Australian Institute of Company Directors and other organisations that specifically focus on our duties as councillors, including cost-effective options for in-house training for all councillors.
As was initially recommended:
1) Note the professional development opportunity for elected members.
2) Approve the enrolment and costs of councillor Jaimie Abbott to undertake the Company Directors Course, including membership costs, in accordance with the Payment of Expenses and Provision of Facilities for mayor/councillors policy.
3) Seek expression of interests from other elected members who may wish to attend the Company Directors Course, and approve enrolment and membership costs in accordance with the payment of expenses and provision of facilities for mayor/councillors policy.
