The newly elected Gingin Shire president, Cr Michael Aspinal, suggested at the November council forum a preference for one meeting a month to replace the current twice monthly meeting program.

At last week’s council meeting the CEO, David Burt, presented a report recommending council meetings be held on the second Tuesday of each month, starting from January 2012.

The report stated there should be no adverse impact on the community and there would be limited cost savings with respect to meal entitlements.

The report stated that 79 percent of West Australian Local Government councils held monthly meeting.

The council unanimously approved the change to monthly meetings.

At the City of Wanneroo’s first council meeting since the election, newly elected mayor, Tracey Roberts, has implemented a few changes to the running of the meeting.

Adorned with the mayoral chain, Mayor Roberts officially opened the meeting by stating: “Prayer has always played a central role in the affairs of our nation. Our federal and state parliaments have traditionally opened in prayer. And as Mayor, I ask you to join us now as we begin our deliberations.”

Then proceeded to recite the prayer.

Once the meeting commenced it wasn’t one of the easiest meetings to manage - Backshall Place in Regents Waters Estate has been an issue on council’s agenda for over ten years and at a cost of over $500,000.

In fact, newly elected Wanneroo Ward councillor, Frank Cvitan, campaigned in the area stating he had a solution, if he got elected to council.

Deputations from both sides of the closure request and question time were testing for the newly elected mayor. Then during the meeting a resident from the estate rose to the podium and a verbal outburst erupted between the mayor and the resident.

The meeting was adjourned until the irate resident vacated the meeting and council building.

When the council considered the report, Cr Cvitan presented an amendment to the officer’s recommendation. The change asked the Director of Infrastructure to prepare a report on the partial closure options outlined in submissions and present them to a council meeting in March 2012.

Most residents from Regent Waters Estate seemed dejected at the lack of decision making by the council on this issue, yet again.