Council's Budget under fire

Christopher O'Leary

13Jun08

THE Alice Springs Town Council's Budget has been labelled unimaginative and insensitive by two of its aldermen.

Melanie van Haaren and Samih Habib are voting against the budget because it provides no plans for future works while asking residents to pay more in rates.

And Ald Habib accused Mayor Damien Ryan of treating his council as an ``advisory'' board.

He said: ``He has to know he is one from nine, and council is a decision-making board.''

Ald Habib said the mayor was trying to control comments made in public by elected officials.

He said: ``He thinks everything should come from under his wing.''

But Mayor Ryan said: ``I do everything with the backing of council. I take my lead from my fellow council members. I discuss all issues with them.

``My door is always open. And lots of people avail themselves of that.

``I think this has been the only week since being elected when we haven't had an organised meeting or forum.''

Ald van Haaren said Mr Ryan's ``dominant'' style was appropriate in leading an inexperienced council.

But she will be voting against the budget.

Under the 2008/09 draft plan residents will pay 8.65 per cent more in rates and there will be a $25 increase for rubbish collection.

She said: ``It's not putting money back to residents.

``With families struggling and no major new works it's a lot of same old same old.

``We should pull in our belts and review our expenditure.''

But Council finance committee Alderman Brendan Heenan said the budget was ``responsible''.

It set aside money for projects such as improving footpaths and redeveloping the local landfill over 10 years, Ald Heenan said.