Council spends to save

By Melissa Meehan
IT’S a case of spending money to make money for Cardinia Shire councillors after they voted to endorse a $15,000 investigative report into how the shire can better manage its money.
But Cardinia residents have questioned whether it is a necessary cost when the council is already in so much debt.
At last week’s council meeting councillor Ed Chatwin moved a motion that a report be prepared to investigate why Cardinia was spending more on materials, contracts and services than other interface councils.
While his motion was endorsed by the majority of councillors, he faced staunch opposition from mayor Bill Pearson, who said the current budget process was already appropriate and the investigation would put unnecessary pressure on already-stressed council officers.
“We are looking at spending a minimum of $15,000 as well as using up a lot of time for our already busy officers,” Cr Pearson said.
“I think it is inappropriate to be doing something like this at this time.”
But Cr Chatwin said it was important for the shire, already looking at $31 million in expenditure, to invest in the study.
“It is important to educate and inform ourselves,” he said.
“It is worth investing so that we can find the best practice and possibly invigorate this organisation.”
Cr Brett Owen echoed Cr Chatwin’s sentiment.
“This is a timely motion and it is pertinent to get this right before the next budget process,” Cr Owen said.
“It is important to do it now for next time.”
Describing the council budget as the shire’s “biggest ticket item”, Cr Collin Ross said it was important to see what other interface councils were doing.
He said Cardinia should take on board some of their good ideas and learn from their mistakes.
“$15,000 is insignificant when we are talking about figures in excess of $31 million,” he said.
“And as the shire gets bigger, with more and more families moving in daily, it is important to get these things right.”
Local residents have slammed the decision, citing better ways to spend ratepayers’ money.
Pakenham resident Kylie Lovett told the Gazette that the investigation seemed like a “waste of money” when the council was already “in millions of dollars of debt”.
Andrew Cook, of Pakenham, said he found it difficult to understand why the council needed to spend money to find out how to spend money. “What a waste,” he said.
Another local, Lee-Ann Minty-Britt, said that funds were desperately needed in the community rather than being spent on more meetings.
“Open your eyes, council,” she said. “Come out into the community, get off your backsides and look where the needs are.”
The motion was passed with all councillors except Crs Pearson and Stuart Halligan endorsing the investigation.
The investigation will compare annual reports and budgets with six interface councils – Whittlesea, Hume, Wyndham, Nillumbik, Melton and Mornington.