Cr Cunningham’s cruise control

A TRIP away by Cr Brett Cunningham has left the Golden Plains Shire without a contactable mayor after the decision was made last November to have no deputy.

Cr Cunningham is away on a cruise until next week, with limited phone coverage, yet under the Local Government Act (2020) he is the authorised spokesperson for the municipality.

Traditionally, the deputy-mayor would have assumed the responsibilities while Cr Cunningham is away, however, the decision was made at the November council meeting not to have one.

Golden Plains Shire CEO Eric Braslis said that in the event the mayor is not contactable, the immediate past mayor, which is Gavin Gamble, would take on the role.

“If the mayor is not contactable for something critically important, consistent with other conventions, the immediate past mayor would become the official council spokesperson,” he said.

“Depending on the task required, another councillor or the CEO can undertake the task.”

Mr Braslis also said that currently, Cr Cunningham, while on a cruise ship, continues to carry out his role as mayor.

“At this time, the Mayor continues to undertake his mayoral responsibilities and would implement the above if and when required,” Mr Braslis said.

Cr Owen Sharkey, who led the motion to have no deputy-mayor, was not aware that Cr Cunningham was away.

“I am not aware of that and I’m not too sure if any councillors are away based on the last few meeting minutes and asking for leave,” he said.

Although not being the designated spokesperson for council at this time, Cr Sharkey said it is his personal opinion that in the event of an emergency the shire needs one.

“In fairness to the mayor, it is an extremely quiet time of year and there aren’t many duties,” he said.

“In saying that, especially at this time of year, we have some extreme heat or parts of Australia are flooding.

“Now that the council has decided not to have a deputy mayor it is probably more important than ever to nominate someone or share the workload.”