CLOSE observers of recent Ipswich council meetings would have noticed a more positive, dare I say convivial, change in atmosphere at the special budget meeting last Thursday.
This came a week after the ordinary meeting on June 20, which was tense at times, whereas the budget meeting was a more relaxed affair. At least that’s how it felt watching the livestream.
Perhaps common sense is finally infiltrating the chamber. It hasn’t been a good public relations look from the start of this term. We can’t expect it to be all love and light because not everyone will agree all the time, such is the nature of politics in a democracy.
We should expect robust public debate on contentious items when necessary, but in a respectful manner.
Newly elected councillor David Cullen probably said it best when he talked about how different it was running your own business to being a councillor. In a nutshell, his message was there’s a lot more involved in getting a council decision.
Chairing was veteran councillor Paul Tully, who highlighted it was the 45th budget he has been involved with. Teresa Harding was sidelined with Covid and logged in from home to deliver the customary mayor’s budget speech.
Selling increases in rates in a positive light is always difficult. There’s only so much to go around and any hint of reducing services never goes down well with community or sporting groups.
Behind the scenes there’s always a scramble to put together media releases that satisfy the organisation and councillors. Not easy!
Then there’s the old chestnut about equitable distribution of money across all divisions. It’s never going to be even because some divisions are growing faster than others.
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