By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
Councillors scupper vote to cut council alcohol spend…
CARDINIA Shire Council has voted to continue spending money on alcohol despite one councillor’s view that ratepayers would be “disgusted” at the extent of the expenditure.
A notice of motion was introduced at Monday night’s meeting (16 November) by councillor Collin Ross who told his colleagues that the policy would save “tens of thousands of dollars a year”.
“Why should residents continue to pay for this expense?” he asked.
“Residents are under extreme cost-of-living pressure and need not have this expense making their rates even higher.”
Information provided to councillors before the meeting revealed that the council had so far spent $6626.78 during 2015 – a figure Cr Ross was quick to point out was equivalent to “three ratepayers’ full payments going directly to the alcohol bill”.
But the motion was voted down by four councillors including Cr Kate Lempriere who dismissed the idea as a “political move” in the lead-up to state and local elections.
Cr George Blenkhorn, who seconded the motion in order to hear Cr Ross’s views, said that the alcohol was supplied to functions that celebrated volunteers who serve the shire.
“It is important to note, when you say tens of thousands of dollars, that is totally over the top,” he said.
“These are not large sums but these are sums spent recognising our community.
“These services (volunteer organisations) save the shire thousands and thousands of dollars, dare I say tens of thousands of dollars.”
Cr Tania Baxter, who said it should be noted that she chooses not to drink at council events, said alcohol should not be supplied on the nights of council meetings.
“I don’t believe it’s necessary for councillors to drink alcohol between briefings and public meeting nights,” she said.
“I don’t think it’s good for decision making.
Cr Baxter was the only other councillor to support the motion with councillors Brett Owen, Kate Lempriere, George Blenkhorn and Graeme Moore voting against it.
Councillor Leticia Wilmot was absent at the time of the division and councillor David Young and Mayor Jodie Owen abstained, although the mayor later released a statement saying that receptions that celebrated volunteers were a way to “acknowledge their efforts”.
She also said the council had already made significant cuts to spending on alcohol.
“Council has already discontinued providing alcohol at its own staff recognition event and we continue to support and lead initiatives to change behaviour in our community,” she said.
“We know and are deeply concerned about the link between alcohol and domestic violence and that alcohol-related family rates in Pakenham, for example, are triple the state average.
“That is why we are the first council in Australia to make addressing family violence our highest priority.”
In 2013, the Herald Sun reported that Cardinia Shire Council ranked fourth in the state for ratepayer funds spent on alcohol.
The statistics were released under freedom of information laws and detailed spending for the years 2010-2011 and 2011-2012.
Melbourne City Council came in first with $82,100 followed by Kingston on $64,200, Darebin on $18,310 then Cardinia with $15,745.
Cr Ross’s motion was one of three that were introduced at the meeting to minimise spending, each voted down by the majority of councillors.
Cr David Young introduced a motion to reduce the kilometre rate claimed by councillors by 20 per cent and Cr Collin Ross moved a second motion asking councillors to make a commitment that the council would not apply to the Essential Services Commission for a rate increase above the statewide cap.
