Council tracks election promises

Gosford Council will receive regular updated reports on election and budget promises in the lead-up to the State Government election next March.

At the request of Cr Craig Doyle, a report was put forward at a council meeting on August 27 highlighting the promises made at the 2007 State Government election as well as Labor budget commitments.

Council resolved to receive updated versions of the report to include the date and manner in which the commitment was made every month until next year's election.

Council also resolved that promises and commitments made in the lead-up to the next election be captured for monitoring and regular reporting during the next State Government term.

Cr Doyle said the regular reporting of election and budget promises would ensure the State Government was held accountable to the community.

"This report is the only one of its nature, to my knowledge, that publicly lists if the government has followed through in its election promises and budget commitments," Cr Doyle said.

"You won't see the local members and politicians coming up with this type of report.

"Unless we hold the State Government accountable for their promises and commitment to this community no one will."

"If it's not the responsibility of council than whose is it?

"Let's make this information public and make the State Government come clean."

However, Cr Vicki Scott pushed the motion to list only those commitments that were relevant to local government in the report but this later rejected by other councillors present at the meeting.

Cr Maher supported Cr Doyle and said it was important to look at all issues affecting the community, such as health and education, as council tried to establish a regional city in Gosford.

Cr Doyle said actions spoke louder than words when it came to the State Government and what they had delivered to the community in the lead-up to next March's election.

"In the words of Don Chipp, let's keep the bastards honest," Cr Doyle said.

"I would think any promotion of what a government has delivered to the community is something they should be proud of.

"It's time we started to get outside of the local government bubble and start thinking regionally."

The August 23 council meeting also resolved to regularly report on promises made by whoever forms government federally until the next federal election.

Clare Graham, 23 Aug 2010 Council agenda COR.98 and COR.99, 23 Aug 2010