HOBSONS Bay City Council was split at its ordinary meeting on 27 June over a motion to review funding and increase grants to the Laverton Festival.
Councillor Mary Ann Lindsay tabled a motion during other business, calling for “a thorough, transparent review of festival funding” and requesting that a further $5000 be allocated to the Laverton Festival, increasing over the next three years.
Cr Lindsay said the funding boost would “allow for parity with the Williamstown and Bayside Festivals”.
“I feel Laverton should be offered the same resource allocation,” she told the council.
Councillor Bill Baarini seconded the motion but it was blocked by other councillors who said any future review of funding would be undermined by the second part of the motion, which called for a funding increase for the Laverton Festival.
The councillors said that the review should be allowed to reach an independent conclusion and would not be able to do so if the first part of the motion was adopted.
“We’re asking for a review and saying what the review will find at the end of the day,” councillor Leigh Hardinge said.
Councillor Peter Hemphill said the council should go through the review process first, then look at increasing funding for the Laverton Festival.
Councillor Angela Altair said council had “hit a brick wall” last time a funding review was undertaken and called for the proper process to be followed this time.
“Let’s do a proper review and make sure there is equity and fairness across the city,” she said.
An amended motion to conduct a funding review without committing to increase funding for the Laverton Festival was eventually adopted by the council.
