By Michael Newhouse
RECENTLY deposed Brimbank mayor Natalie Suleyman has defended her decision to sit on only one committee for the remaining two years of her council term, saying that after two years as mayor it was time to focus on work and on her ward.
“I’m quite content with my role being on one committee,” Cr Suleyman told Star. “It gives me more time to concentrate on local issues in the Taylors Ward.”
Brimbank City Council endorsed the new committees last Tuesday at the first council meeting of the year, with Cr Suleyman part of the Sydenham Transit City Advisory Committee, on which all Taylors Ward councillors sit.
Unlike previous committees, the new committee structures will run for two years instead of one and are valid until the next council elections, which are due to be held at the end of 2008 – a move that will allow councillors to settle into their committee roles, according to new mayor Margaret Giudice.
As mayor, Cr Suleyman sat on 10 committees last year, according to the council’s 2005-06 annual report.
Last week she denied the decreased committee workload showed a drop in a commitment to the council.
“I have been the mayor for two years and obviously it has taken a lot of time and effort, and, I mean, I made a commitment this year to go back to work on a full-time basis, and I think that’s appropriate,” the former mayor said.
Having been employed part-time during the past two years as mayor, Cr Suleyman will this year return to a full-time position working for Kororoit MP Andre Haermeyer.
Cr Suleyman said the committee process was not the most important part of council life, stressing the need to connect with the community and a councillor’s local ward.
“Being on a committee, at the end of the day, the outcome is not one that really equals anything,” she said.
“What really matters is representing your residents and the ratepayers, and I’m committed to doing that.”
