Redland City, Aug. 22, 2023 – Jos Mitchell, a prominent candidate in the upcoming mayoral election, has vowed to implement significant changes to the city’s councillor vehicle policy if elected mayor next year. Mitchell argues that a departure from traditional fleet arrangements will aid the council in curtailing what she perceives as needless spending.
Mitchell, a Victoria Point resident and former police prosecutor, believes that adopting an optional allowance framework for elected officials is a critical strategy that the Redland City Council can implement to tighten its fiscal belt. She emphasises the importance of taking robust actions, particularly during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, to support financially strained households.
In her bid for the city’s highest office, Mitchell asserts that it’s time for the local government to align its vehicle allowance practices with those in place for federal and state Members of Parliament. While the council had decided unanimously in 2016 to reintroduce fleet vehicles for councillors, citing alignment with community expectations, Mitchell envisions a shift toward an allowance-based approach. Under this proposed system, insurance, fleet maintenance, depreciation, and staff time burdens would be alleviated.
Mitchell articulated, “In an era where responsible management of taxpayer funds is imperative, we must explore alternatives that reflect a prudent approach to spending. Just as households are adapting their budgets, the council must also adhere to similar principles. This marks the beginning of the strategies we can consider to curtail unnecessary expenditures.”Recent investigations by the media uncovered that three out of ten councillors were utilising personal vehicles instead of council-provided cars. Whether this arrangement has changed since then remains unclear. A council spokesperson had previously explained that councillors opting out of fleet vehicles were entitled to claim petrol expenses related to official travel.
Detailed transportation expenditures for individual councillors, including the mayor, are disclosed annually in the Redland City Council’s official report. The figures for the 2021/22 fiscal year totalled $96,382. Mitchell’s proposal seeks to restructure these expenditures to pursue a more streamlined and cost-effective approach to council operations.
News source – Redlandcitynews.com.au
