By NATALIE GALLENTI
MELTON City Council will not put a cap on rates despite an impassioned plea from one councillor at the first meeting of the new look council last week.
Councillor Broden Borg, who was elected to the Coburn Ward on the back of a rate promise, put forward the motion to cap rate increases to CPI for the next four years.
The motion sparked vigorous debate in chambers, as the Coburn Ward councillor argued that residents would not continue to accept rate rises of up to 10 per cent each year.
Cr Borg said he had made the election promise and would be sticking by his word.
“This working class community cannot afford to constantly face rate rises,” he said.
“(The council) needs to be prudent and deliver core services.
“It’s alright to promise it at election time, but the community will lose faith in us.”
Cr Borg’s speech received rousing applause from the gallery, however his fellow councillors were not so supportive.
Only Cr Lara Carli backed the motion, which was eventually defeated.
Cr Bob Turner labeled the motion as “dangerous and irresponsible” and said money would be lost and services would be forced to shut down if the motion was passed.
Mayor Kathy Majdlik said it was a “high risk” strategy and while she was not opposed to capping rates in the future, it was an issue that should be discussed at the upcoming 2013-14 Council Budget.
“It is early days to know all the issues facing the municipality…capping rates would be fiscally irresponsible,” Cr Majdlik said.
Cr Sophie Ramsey branded Cr Borg as “Santa Claus” and asked what else was on his Christmas wish list.
Melton City Council chief executive Kelvin Tori said capping rates was a “dangerous budgeting practice” and “once a motion like this was resolved it would be very hard to step away from it”.
“It’s a high risk strategy albeit politically popular,” Mr Tori said.
The motion was one of nine made by Cr Borg on the night, with five getting the green light from council.
Motions that passed included; preparing a report detailing the financial implications of a Council Beautification Unit, the beautification and upkeep of Melton Railway Station, investigating options for a bridge connecting Toolern Creek to Melton Botanic Gardens, a letter to State Parliament representatives urging the duplication of Melton Highway and a review of all parks and reserves in the Melton township.
While calls for funding for the Melton Botanic Gardens and the Courthouse Plaza redevelopment, a letter to State and Federal Parliament representatives reaffirming the commitment to a 24-hour general public hospital, were defeated.
