IT MAY seem an odd thing to say, but Ipswich council meetings keep on giving.
The December meeting was no exception.
Public participation in council meetings was introduced last term and it has been a while since a local resident stood in the chamber to address councillors.
Ken Salter stepped up to the lectern and came out all guns blazing. He was not happy Swifts had encroached on his rugby league territory at Redbank Plains, even if it is temporary. Before Ken knew it, his two minutes were up with no clear indication of what he wanted from council.
Fortunately, councillors voted to allow an extra two minutes. It is worth a look on YouTube.
Also last week the mayor’s overseas travel report was sure to go one of two ways. Either it would be waved through with no comment, or the sideshow it became. It also took up a great deal of time in the meeting.
Paul Tully put forward a surprise amendment to appoint the deputy mayor as acting mayor while Teresa Harding is overseas, however the mayor was having none of that.
Marnie Doyle summed it up nicely. “Please don’t mention unified, unity, to me again ’cause this is a very clear example of a decision by a few without including the whole group,” she said.
The unexpected twists and turns again clearly indicated who is not talking to who, or what’s said and agreed before a meeting doesn’t always transpire to the livestream.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
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