ALBURY councillor David Thurley has broken ranks to enable a rescission motion to be tabled opposing a move to strip council’s planning department of its delegated power to approve all commercial and industrial development applications.
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But Cr Thurley has joined Cr Graham Docksey and Cr Alice Glachan in mounting the rescission motion which will be debated at the March council meeting.
Cr Thurley said his position had shifted following a meeting with general manager Frank Zaknich.
“What it will lead to is a whole series of unintended consequences none of us really had time to think about,” Cr Thurley said.
“As there were no limits in the motion every single commercial and industrial DA must come to council.
“I don’t think that is what Henk or anyone else intended.
“So if Henk and others want more involvement of councillors it needs to be better targeted.
“We don’t want to be reviewing every Bunnings sign or chicken shop sign.
“We want to be reviewing important stuff.”
The lodging of the rescission motion this week means the previous arrangements including staff being able to approve development applications are back in play until the next council meeting.
Also, the matter will be discussed at a councillor workshop scheduled for Monday night.
Asked why he had a change of heart since the council meeting, Cr Thurley said: “I had the view we need to have a bit more say in council.
“But having thought about it and discussed it with (Mr Zaknich) I think it has unintended consequences.”
Cr van de Ven said he wasn’t perturbed by the rescission motion.
“Everyone’s entitled to do it and I’ve put rescission motions up myself before,” he said.
“Obviously we will argue the case when it comes up and we will see what happens.
“From my perspective the notice of motion has had the desired effect already.”
It was unsuccessful.
