COUNCIL has moved to back pedal four decisions in just eight months.
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A rescission motion needs the signature of three councillors to get up, and if it loses, the issue can’t be revisited for three months.
Armidale Regional Council councillor Ian Tiley has worked in local governance for 54 years, and said having two rescission motions at one meeting, as happened in May, is unusual.
“It’s healthy to thrash things around as long as you don’t delay unduly making the decisions, people have an expectation that you’re there to make decisions.
“This is my seventh council and the quantum of rescission motions here far exceeds anywhere else I’ve served.”
Most recently, councillors moved to U-turn the rail trail business case and a DA modification requiring developers to include a public path adjacent to Dumaresq Creek, so the land would be open to the public for years to come.
Cr Tiley was one of the signatories on the move to backpedal April’s DA application decision.
This is my seventh council and the quantum of rescission motions here far exceeds anywhere else I’ve served.
- Ian Tiley
Mayor Simon Murray said he recognises the rescission motions could impact public perceptions about council’s ability to stick to decisions.
“Potentially it will give the impression that councillors are not clear in their mind about the issue that was debated,” he said.
“However, as more information comes to light that the councillors were not aware of at the time of the debate, I see no problem with rescission motions.”
Councillors are within their rights to move a rescission motion if they feel they didn’t have enough information or circumstances change.
The benefit is that council doesn’t have to move forward on decisions that might have been made in haste.
Cr Murray said council has given councillors a week instead of three days to flick through the agenda.
“Councillors are also encouraged to ask questions related to the papers through the chief executive officer,” he said.
On Wednesday councillors voted to rescind a decision to run a desktop study on the New England Rail Trail, and will instead undertake a feasibility study at a cost of $50,000.
Cr Andrew Murat signed the motion, along with Diane Gray and Libby Martin.
There wasn’t enough information, or expertise, for council to make a decision based on just a desktop study, Cr Murat said.
“Councillors were concerned about the cost, but when you look at what could be achieved by a desktop study, the report was never going to be sufficient to make a decision.
“You do rescission motions as they’re required, if they’re required, they’re required.
“It’s important that the councillors get the information and get it right, that’s my opinion.”