A BAN on Albury councillors using their mobile phones at meetings has been welcomed by one as "long overdue and very welcome".
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David Thurley made his comments during a debate at Monday night's meeting over a new code of meeting practice that rules on mobile phone use.
It states: "In the interests of ensuring respect for other councillors and meeting participants, councillors must not use their mobile phone during meetings except for external work (on-call) and emergency situations with approval of the mayor".
Cr Thurley said ratepayers had expressed their annoyance to him about councillors using their devices.
"We have been criticised publicly and I have received feedback from the community about the use of mobile phones and councillors not listening or paying attention to the presenters," he said.
"I think that this as a discretionary addition to the code is long overdue and very welcome."
Cr Thurley told The Border Mail after the meeting that those involved in the aquatic sports community had raised the issue with him after observing councillors using phones during meetings discussing the pool fees implementation.
Meanwhile, the council has agreed to spend $132,318 on new ground floor toilets for public use in the city's Kiewa Street headquarters.
The Wodonga company building Albury's new netball courts pavilion at JC King Park received the tender for the work.
Connelly Construction Services won the contract ahead of Albury firms the Joss Group and Dezign and Ultra Project Services, of Rutherglen, and Whiteson and Company, of Griffith.
The council had budgeted $155,000 for the work which is expected to take nine weeks to complete.
The toilets have not been upgraded since the building was built in 1975.
Work will include tiling, lighting and temperature sensors and new toilets, basins, ceilings and mirrors.
