Councillors are happy with their numbers

COUNCILLOR Trevor Fredericks believes that if it were possible to reduce the number of councillors governing Kiama at the next election, he would campaign to do so.

At the April council meeting, Cr Fredericks put forward a motion for the general manager to seek clarification from the Local Government Minister about whether the opportunity to reduce councillor numbers was still available.

"As we"re looking forward to some difficult decisions regarding budgetary constraints, then it"s important to consider councillor numbers," Cr Fredericks told the Kiama Independent.

"Personally, I think seven is a good number for our council. Kiama has a very small population base and seven could cover the area well."

The council has nine councillors now.

Councillor Ruth Devenney said she thought the existing number of council members was fine.

"I reckon the councillors serve the community well. I"m not altogether sure we need a change," Cr Devenney said.

Cr Warren Steel echoed this, saying, "We"ve got a good mix and being an odd number is very good. It"s an ideal number for a little council like ours."

Fellow councillor Brendon Comber also said he thought the council had a good mix of people.

"If you lessen the numbers that will shift the balance of power too much," he said.

Kiama"s other councillors were also approached for comment but did not respond before publication.

A spokesman for Local Government Minister Paul Lynch said the opportunity available to all councils to reduce councillor numbers without resorting to a constitutional referendum ended in July 2006.