Pride flag display dates inside Albury Council chamber will be in hands of elected representatives

The youth council formally approached council for the visual representation of the LGBTQI+ community to be on permanent display with a compromise position of the flag on show on key dates following consultation between the youth council and council staff also rejected.

Cr Henk van den Ven succeeded with an amendment for elected councillors to have the final say when the pride flag was displayed in the chamber and proceeded to declare the initial approach was politically motivated.

Cr van de Ven said youth mayor Eli Davern, in lodging the submission, was over-stepping the mark.

"Eli is 17-years-old and has already been a member of two political parties in his short life," Cr van de Ven said.

"He has been a member of the Labor Party and is now a member of the Greens.

"We've got political affiliations already showing out in the youth council.

"The youth council does a good job, but they need to focus on some more stuff that is to the benefit of youth."

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Cr van den Ven said there was minimal community support for the permanent display of the flag.

His amendment was backed by Cr Alice Glachan, Cr Graham Docksey, Cr Murray King and Cr John Stuchbery.

Mayor Kevin Mack, deputy mayor Amanda Cohn and Cr David Thurley voted against the amendment.

Cr Darren Cameron was an apology for the meeting last night.

Cr Thurley dismissed Cr van de Ven's assertions about Mr Davern's motives.

"If (councillors) had to make every decision in relation to what happens in this city nothing would get done," Cr Thurley said.

"We trust our officers to listen carefully.

"I don't believe the youth council is some bunch of left-wing nut cases."

Cr Cohn, a Greens member, also strongly objected to Cr van de Ven's comments.

"The youth council have asked us specifically to display the pride flag in the chamber because they say it is a meaningful gesture of inclusion," she said.

"I am quite disturbed with personal attacks that have been made against Eli, who is a teenager, in this chamber tonight.

"I think the officer's recommendation was a really appropriate way of meeting the requests of the youth council made within the parameters of the civic display of flags protocols we have just adopted.

"I think we should be empowering and engaging with those young people to let them make this very basic decision.

"I don't think we should be patronising them."

Cr Stuchbery said he disagreed with Cr van de Ven's "rant" in moving the amendment, but supported the underlying premise that councillors make the final call.

Mr Davern confirmed he had formerly been a member of the Labor Party before switching to the Greens.

"I am disappointed with some of the language used in the meeting," he said.

"But overall I am pleased with the outcome.

"It was always an uncertain thing, but I am pleased the councillors and staff have really thought this through and made a decision they think appropriate.

"I know the youth council will be sure to submit dates we think are appropriate for the flag to be displayed."

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