Greater Geraldton CEO gives personal support for one-cycle transition to eight councillors at agenda forum

Reforms to the City of Greater Geraldton’s council size were discussed briefly at the council’s agenda forum meeting last week, with the City’s CEO giving his personal endorsement for a quick transition to eight councillors. Mayor Shane Van Styn asked for clarification on the executive council’s position on whether the council should be reduced directly from 12 councillors to eight in one election cycle, or if it should do so over two cycles, going from 12 to 10 to eight councillors. The executive recommendation in the proposal is for the latter, which the Mayor questioned. “The last time we talked about this, the vibe was to go straight to eight,” Mr Van Styn said. CEO Ross McKim clarified the recommendation was a formality, and that the City’s officers would not object to making the transition in one cycle. Mr McKim said his personal preference was to go straight to eight councillors, plus a directly elected mayor. “It just rips the bandaid off. We get where we’re meant to be, saves a couple of salaries, but the negative is it does reduce the number of locals who have the opportunity to sit as councillors,” he said. The proposal will be put to a vote at the council meeting on Tuesday (January 31).