Councillor dogged by decision

KATINA CURTIS

MEMBERS of Kiama Council’s Companion Animals Management Committee are upset with chairman Howard Jones’ support of a rescission motion against allowing dogs on Werri Beach.

However, Cr Jones says he never gave committee members, or anyone else, any indication of how he intended to vote.

While the council voted earlier this month to approve the off-leash exercise area at Werri Beach for at least a year, four councillors submitted a rescission motion after the meeting.

This will be debated at the August meeting and, if passed, would reverse the decision and ban dogs from the beach.

If it is defeated, dogs will be allowed on the beach before 9am and after 5pm, with a review in 12 months.

In the meantime, the status quo will prevail and dogs are still not allowed on the beach.

Kevin Hodgson, from the Companion Animals Committee, said he left the meeting where the matter was discussed “under the distinct impression that Howard Jones was going to vote for it”.

Fellow committee members Kim Elder and Tony Mitchell said Cr Jones did not speak against their recommendation that the off-leash area continue during the committee meeting.

“Howard Jones gave me no indication that he was going to vote against it and certainly the committee was for it to continue as it is now,” Mrs Elder said.

Mr Mitchell agreed, saying, “Howard didn’t put any objections up and he didn’t put any doubts about it and I was a bit disappointed when I read about (the rescission motion).”

But Cr Jones said he had to keep his role as the committee’s chair distinct from his role as a councillor.

“As a councillor I have to weigh up all the factors,” he said.

“I accept that some members may be upset that I didn’t support them, but I also didn’t attempt to influence the decision of that committee.

“My comments that I would represent the views of the committee to the council may have been misconstrued as me saying I would support the motion.”

At the council meeting, Cr Jones opened his argument by saying his position on this matter was consistent with his previous position on beach off-leash areas.