Debate continues over council meeting time

A RESCISSION motion to block the shift of Lismore City Council meetings to daytime sessions failed at Tuesday’s extraordinary council meeting.

Councillor Adam Guise sought to overturn a decision made at the October 15 council meeting that changed the start time of meetings from 6pm to 10am.

He said councillors had been asked to vote on the change without prior warning, which limited their ability to consult and respond on the issue, or for the public to voice their opinion.

He said councillors would have a personal opinion on the issue but needed to consider what was best for the public, who they represented.

Cr Big Rob said the way the matter was raised was inappropriate and was not fair to councillors who stood for office on the basis that meetings were held at night.

Two members of the public spoke in favour of overturning the decision.

Nancy Casson said it was disappointing the community was not consulted on the change, and said it would prevent business owners from attending or watching the livestream.

She suggested an afternoon start was more in line with when most other councils started their meetings.

Jim Richardson agreed, and said daytime meetings would limit public access and engagement, and the opportunity to ask questions directly to councillors in public.

Mayor Steve Krieg said he supported the move to a daytime meeting as it would improve productivity, and conversations with other mayors indicated it would also increase community engagement.

He said they also had to consider the workplace health and safety ramifications of staff working long hours on meeting days, many starting at 8.30am and working through until 10.30pm.

The rescission motion was defeated and council meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of the month, starting at 10am.