Money for Councillor's spouse, partner or accompanying person

Tonight Council adopted a controversial Policy for the Payment of Expenses and Provision of Facilities to Councillors that included a new provision to pay Councillor's spouse, partner or accompanying person in certain circumstances.

See a copy of the Policy here or here. A budget of $7,000 needs to be set aside for this new provision.

When I moved that we adopt the Policy without this controversial provision, I did not even get a seconder.

ITEM-61 CCL 21/07/2009 - POLICY FOR THE PAYMENT OF EXPENSES AND PROVISION OF FACILITIES TO COUNCILLORS
MOTION: (COUNCILLOR M OSBORNE)
Council adopt the Policy subject to the exclusion of Section 12 regarding Payments for Spouses and Partners.

The Lord Mayor called for a seconder.
As no seconder was forthcoming the motion lapsed for want of a seconder.

MOTION: (THE LORD MAYOR/COUNCILLOR B COOK)
Council adopt the Policy.
Councillor Osborne then gave notice of a foreshadowed motion that being his original motion.

Councillor Claydon pointed out that Section 34.2.8 referred to specific gender and indicated that the Policy should be non-gender specific.

The Lord Mayor noted that the wording in this Clause should state "their" and was meant to be non-gender specific.

The motion was put to the meeting and declared carried.

RESOLVED: (THE LORD MAYOR/COUNCILLOR B COOK
Council adopt the Policy.

Note: Councillor Osborne wished his name recorded as voting against the motion.