Statement from Mayor Juliet Arkwright
Wingecarribee Shire Mayor Councillor Juliet Arkwright has today expressed her disappointment in this evening’s Ordinary Meeting being deferred to next Wednesday 17 April.
The abandonment of the meeting follows a refusal by three members of the public to leave the chambers once councillors had voted in favour to move into Closed Council.
“This evening was a sad night for democracy,” Councillor Arkwright said after both the Police and Ambulance personnel were called to remove the three members of the public, including one whom required medical assistance.
“Council was in its right to move into Closed Council once the vote had been taken and standing orders had been suspended,” Councillor Arkwright said.
“Had the meeting proceeded into Closed Council as per the majority decision, the outstanding item – which had to be abandoned on two previous occasions due to a lack of a quorum – could have been attended to.
“The Code of Meeting Practice allows Council to make such a decision to allow the continued function of Council business,” Councillor Arkwright added.
“Hopefully commonsense will prevail and the matter, including the rest of the business paper, will finally be dealt with in its entirety next week.”
The adjourned meeting will take place in Council’s Moss Vale Civic Centre, Elizabeth Street from 4.00pm, Wednesday 17 April.