The Mayor of Dungog wants to donate her councillor fees and mayoral allowance to fund the small projects of community groups.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
At its ordinary meeting tonight, Dungog Shire Council will consider a mayoral minute from Cr Tracy Norman on the issue.
“Several of our neighbouring as well as other councils, have small grants available for community groups, projects and events,” Cr Norman said in a report to councillors.
“I would like to donate the 2018/2019 mayoral allowance and the Mayor’s councillor fees budget back to council to be used for small grants to assist Dungog Shire community organisations.”
The mayoral fee is $15,078 and the councillor fee is $8969.
To assure probity, the proposed grants would be administered by council officers and determined by the full council.
“I would play no part in the decisions around the awarding of these grants,” said Cr Norman.
“I would however play a role in determining the funding parameters for these grants so that I am confident that the money is used to benefit the community in line with the aspirations of the council’s Community Strategic Plan 2030.”
The motion from the Mayor is for the council’s General Manager to prepare a report to go back to the August council meeting that sets out the methodology and policy for the proposed program.
The proposed program would start in September if the councillors support the mayoral minute.
Cr Norman said the proposed program to be in place while she is Mayor would be a boost for sporting and community organisations in the shire that need funding for small projects and infrastructure.
“Applying for grants can be quite an onerous task,” she said.
“My idea is this will be much easier and the local groups will not be competing with the rest of the state or the country with everybody else.”
