Wards set to go

as posted here

Wards in the City of Gosnells are set to be abolished - bringing an end to the old system where voters elected councillors in a particular ward - Bickley, Canning Vale or Gosnells.

If the Local Government Advisory Board accepts a Council proposal, voters will now select candidates on a City-wide basis at the next election.

Under the old system, candidates stood for available seats in one of the three wards, with two councillors in each area up for re-election every two years. The two winners in each ward were elected to Council.

Under the new system, half-a-dozen seats will be contested City-wide every two years and the top six in the poll will be elected, regardless of which area they come from within the City.

The decision to abolish wards was based on recommendations from independent consultants engaged by the City to assist with a mandatory review of wards and councillor numbers.

Chief Executive Officer Ian Cowie said that if adopted, the new system would help avoid costly by-elections and would avoid the need for ongoing ward boundary reviews, as the City grows rapidly.

“The City has had three extraordinary elections since 2001 under the ward system and this is a costly exercise. Under the new system, an extraordinary election will not be required so long as 80 per cent of positions on Council remain filled,” Mr Cowie said.

“There is also a complete misconception at times that councillors represent their wards, when in fact they work extremely hard for all ratepayers in the City. The removal of ward boundaries helps to reinforce that their efforts are on behalf of all residents.

“It gives people access to a dozen hard working local representatives working for the betterment of the City as a whole.”

Elected Members voted to retain 12 positions on Council.


as posted here