EXPRESS The
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Locally owned and proudly independent
Bull and bronc action at Mt Carbine Spectators from near and far crammed into the Mt Carbine Sports Grounds last Saturday night for the 15th annual Bull and Bronc ride. Several locals impressed on the night with non-stop bull and bronc action from start to finish. Turn to Page 14 for Peter Roy’s snapshots of the evening and page 25 for results.
Photo by Peter Roy.
Travelling Regional Councillor By Justin Fris
I
N the month of July alone, $3000 of Tablelands Regional Council ratepayer money was used by TRC councillor Peter Hodge to attend personal courses of study. TRC Cr Marjorie Pagani said she believed some of these events attended by Cr Hodge were not all Local Government Association of Queensland-sanctioned. In her address to fellow councillors, Cr Pagani said:“I’m very concerned about this. We have people paying massive rates; and in the last quarter of a councillor’s term, we are paying for his private study.” TRC CEO Ian Church responded to Cr Pagani by informing the room that they both had corresponded via email.
“Yes, you said that councillors were ‘at liberty’ to attend LGAQ events,” Cr Pagani said. “I then wrote back and said: ‘what about courses of study?’ some of which are up to $10,000 and whether there was any cap limit. “This is a personal course of study; it is not a workshop and has not been approved by Council.” Mr Church further clarified the situation for The Express in a written statement, believing that Cr Hodge had complied with the rules. “By way of resolution from the meeting on December 18, 2014, Cr Hodge and all other councillors were authorised to complete modules of the LGAQ Elected Member Program,” he said. “This resolution stated that:“Councillors wishing to attend workshops that are part of the LGAQ Elected Member Program are authorised
cCloshh
therise.net.au views
Debbie 0409 321 000
to do so.” “This resolution was carried unanimously. Cr Hodge’s expenditure was therefore in compliance with the resolution. “His expenditure on the Elected Member Program was monitored, as is all expenditure by councillors, for attendance at workshops and conferences. Expenditure is monitored against the overall budget.” Cr Hodge said it was unfortunate that Cr Pagani ‘chose to disrupt the meeting the way she did’, instead of ‘facilitating the business of Council’. “My attendance in the LGAQ Elected Member Program and the Department of Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning 2015 Planning Summit was not only approved by the Mayor and CEO, but also by all Councillor through resolutions,” he said.
“My total focus is always how I can deliver services to the residents of our region in the most efficient way possible. “It is so important that we stay focused on delivering outcomes that are the best for the region and its residents. Councillors must keep their skills current so they can provide these services that the residents require and deserve.” One of the courses attended by Cr Hodge was in Brisbane – during the same time as Cr Pagani – who had originally offered to attend the event at her own expense instead of TRC ratepayers. Cr Pagani chose to respond to both Mr Church and Cr Hodge’s statements and said:“Cr Hodge’s assertion that his expenses were sanctioned by a resolution passed by all councillors is patently wrong, as is the CEO’s statement. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
F $2 rom 80 ,00 0
Lots from 3416m2
serenity
lifestyle...
packages
QBCC 1076708