COUNCILLORS have pledged to co-operate with City of Ballarat officers following a heated debate over financial reports on the Civic Hall site redevelopment this week.
At Wednesday’s ordinary meeting of council, Cr Ben Taylor said he had lost faith in some council officers over the abandoned $40 million project but yesterday he pledged to work “in good faith” for the remainder of the term.
He said a report on the $1.8 million expenditure on the project showed money had been wasted.
“Going forward it will have to be about communication and demonstration of actions for council to have a strategic direction, and for us to have faith in the officers acting in a prudent, responsible and accountable way,” he said.
“I have felt more frustrated than vindicated but will do whatever is best for the city.”
Cr Taylor said he had voted for the project’s planning permit application in June 2010, but not in August last year after the plans were revealed.
He said there was no need for key appointments, including that of chief executive officer Anthony Schinck, to be reviewed outside existing performance measures.
The report for the period from May to December 2011 detailed expenses paid for architects, a technical advisory panel, tender evaluations and advertising.
Cr Samantha McIntosh — who also voted against the Civic Hall redevelopment in August 2011 — welcomed the information contained in the reports and said it should lead to better decision making processes.
“We can now deal with these concerns and move forward, and we will have to face (future plans for the site) head on, using what the community have told us in our favour,” she said.
Email a friend