On Tuesday councillors voted to take a motion to the 2008 annual conference of the Local Government Association of NSW (LGA) on the issue of communication expenses.

The motion recommends the LGA approach the Department of Local Government to request a review of the Local Government Act to seek to allow councillors to be reimbursed for expenses associated with communicating with the community.

The decision to raise the issue at the LGA conference follows a failed attempt earlier this year by Shoalhaven City Council to instate a $6000 councillor reimbursement allowance.

The Department of Local Government advised council to reverse a decision to provide councillors with the allowance as it was found to be in breach of the Act.

Councillor Gareth Ward said council would take the motion to the conference in an effort to give the State Government the chance to address the issue.

He said the government had a problem with the program council had proposed, and councillors wanted to give the Department of Local Government the opportunity to determine an alternative solution.

The motion to be presented to the conference will call for an allowance to be made available up to a set limit per financial year.

“Councillors do not have offices and staff, they do not have electorate allowances and they do not have a dedicated communications budget,” an explanation of the motion stated.

“For councillors to be more proactive, these costs should be reasonable expenses as part of a councillor’s operations.”