By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
CARDINIA Shire Council has voted down a Notice of Motion that would force them to adhere to the Essential Services Commission rate cap.
Councillor Collin Ross introduced a motion last Monday 16 November asking councillors to commit to the cap, which is yet to be set by the ESC.
The two-part motion asked councillors firstly to vote that council “does not support a ‘council rate increase above the rate capping state-wide cap’ in our future 2016/2017 budget”.
It continued to propose that council “not support that applying to the Essential Services Commission for a rate increase above the state-wide cap”.
The majority of councillors were overwhelmingly opposed to the idea, with a division revealing each had voted against the motion except for Cr Ross and Cr Tania Baxter, who had abstained.
In speaking to the motion, Cr Baxter said she felt affordable rates were a priority for the people of Cardinia.
“I believe that the community would prefer a rate and services cut over a rate and services increase,” she said.
She went on to say that it was too early to decide whether or not to support the cap since it has not yet been set – the argument of each of the councillors who spoke against it.
Cr David Young said he would like to see the motion come before council again when a cap had been decided upon.
“I feel that this council is not in a position at this time to support or reject this motion,” he said.
“When we are aware of the cap, we obviously could consider this motion then – whether we apply for a variant or not.”
In speaking to the motion, Cr Ross said it was “outrageous” that council rates had been raised 119 per cent over 11 years and told his fellow councillors that they were not responding to the views of ratepayers.
“I believe the council needs to start listening to ratepayers,” he said.
“And if you don’t listen to ratepayers, at your own peril, you won’t be here in the end.”
