Council's 2010/11 Annual Report repeats the high level of disclosure of the 2009/10 Annual Report.  The report can be obtained via the following link:

http://colacotway.vic.gov.au/page/Download.asp?name=ANNUAL_REPORT_2010-2011.pdf&size=0&link=../Files/ANNUAL_REPORT_2010-2011.pdf

Ordinary Council Meeting Briefing Sessions

For the second year in a row, the Council has disclosed the  attendance record of each Councillor at the Briefing Session held prior to each Ordinary Council meeting. 

Councillor attendance varied significantly.  Attendance ranged from part of one meeting with eleven missed for one Councillor up to twelve out of twelve for another.  Six out of seven Councillors attended the majority of Briefings, at least in part.

I attended all twelve Briefing Sessions. 

Equipment provided to Councillors for their use

The Council has always provided equipment to Councillors to help them perform their duties.  The details of what is provided to each Councillor wasn't disclosed prior to the 2009/10 Annual Report.

The State Government has specified a minimum set of equipment that should be made available to Councillors.  This doesn't mean that each Councillor has every item of equipment. 

For the second year, Council's Annual Report discloses the equipment allocated to each Councillor.  For example, I have been allocated a "Laptop Computer" and "Next G Internet Connection" for use whilst I am a Councillor.  (I still do this blog on my personal computer and use my personal Internet account.) 

Other equipment made available to Councillors and mentioned in the Annual Report is a "Land Line Phone", "Mobile Phone" and "Fax Machine".  I have none of these items from Council.

It is possible to read the Annual Report and see what item is allocated to each Councillor.

Travel Claims Paid

Where possible, I travel with other Councillors or with Council Officers to minimise my travel claims.  I also use public transport, but this is generally limited to trips from Geelong to Melbourne.

Like all Councillors, I have been appointed to a number of Boards or Committees.  Some of these involve significant travel.  For example, the Corangamite Regional Library Board meetings are held in Terang, a considerable distance from Lavers Hill.  The Municipal Association of Victoria meetings are held in Melbourne.

The travel claims paid to Councillors in each of the last six financial years are detailed in the table below.  The amount for 2010/11 is 15% lower than the amount for 2009/10.  It is also 29% less than the record high, set during the previous Council's term, for  2005/06.  (I haven't been able to find figures for the years before 30/6/2006.)

These figures have been extracted from the relevant annual report.  I have also disclosed the travel claim paid to me in the table below.  This is part of the total figure paid to all Councillors.  In other words, for the year ended 30 June 2011 a total of $41,560 was paid to all the Councillors of which $10,234 was paid to me.

Please also note that the figures below are the amounts paid during the financial year.  There may be some amounts owing that are paid early in the next financial year.  These amounts are then reported in the following year.  In addition, Councillors are reimbursed for other costs that are not included in the travel claims.  I was reimbursed $373 for the year ended 30 June 2011.  The extra $373 was mainly for accommodation costs and train fares.

Generally, the Mayor is not paid for travel.  This is because the Mayor is provided with a Council vehicle - currently a Toyota Corolla at the time of writing. 

Please feel free to contact me on 5237-3196 if you would like to discuss this or any other Council matter.

To comply with the Councillor Code of Conduct I need to make it clear that these comments are my personal report. I am not speaking on behalf of the Council.