On Tuesday night Council considered feedback from the community as part of the Ward Boundary and Representation Review it conducted as part of the City’s commitment to a voluntary reform pathway.
The City considered 164 submissions as part of the Review with options presented including the removal of the ward system entirely, reducing the number of wards from four to two or retaining the current four ward structure with adjustments to ward boundaries.
53.4% of respondents supported the retention of the four ward structure as oppose to the two ward option (17.2%), no wards (19.6%) or other (9.8%).
Mayor Filomena Piffaretti said she was pleased the majority of respondents were keen to retain the existing four ward structure.
“The City of Bayswater is so diverse. Ward Councillors have a good understanding of the opportunities and issues within the local area they represent so are best placed to respond to the needs of the community.
“Under the ward structure different sectors of the community are well represented.
Now the Ward Boundary and Representation Review is complete, Council has authorised CEO, Jeremy Edwards, to prepare a report for the Local Government Advisory Board advising how the City plans to fulfil its obligations under the voluntary reform pathway announced by Minister for Local Government, the Hon John Carey MLA.
The City plans to retain its four ward structure while amending the existing ward boundaries over two elections. It will also reduce the number of Councillors from 11 to eight over two elections; with one position removed from Central Ward in 2023 and one each from North and West Ward in 2025. The City will also request the Minister consider a transitional amendment to legislation removing the need for a costly by-election by abolishing a further Councillor position in 2023 instead of 2025 should the need arise.*
At its Special Council Meeting on 11 October 2022 Council voted to popularly elect the Mayor from 2023.
“The direct election of the Mayor from 2023 reflects our community’s desire to have a voice on who represents them. This is something I fully support.” said Mayor Piffaretti.
The deadline for submitting a final ward boundary and representation proposal to the Local Government Advisory Board is 14 February 2023.
“I believe adopting the voluntary reform pathway will ensure the City’s Administration is in a position to transition and cause the least amount of disruption to the City.”
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*Under the Department’s reform guidelines elected members can no longer hold the position of Mayor and Councillor concurrently. As both West Ward and North Ward are both represented by three Councillors (this number will reduce to two in 2025), should a Councillor from one of these two wards, who is half way through their term (four years), be elected to the role of Mayor this could trigger a by-election. If this occurs the City has requested that transitional provisions be considered as part of the legislative reform, giving the Minister the power to dismiss the requirement for a by-election, essentially bringing forward the reduction in the number of Councillors for that ward, thus sparing ratepayers the expense of a by-election. The City will write to the Minister for Local Government asking him to consider this transitional amendment in the draft legislation.