Council rift over travel bug claims

By Rebecca Fraser
CASEY councillor Paul Richardson has come under fire from colleagues claiming his attempts to save ratepayers money could instead be costing thousands of dollars.
At last Tuesday’s council meeting, Cr Richardson, an outspoken critic of ratepayer-funded council trips, called for a state-wide travel register to monitor the travel habits and expenditure of councillors and council officers across Victoria.
Before being elected to council last November, Cr Richardson formed the Endeavour Hills Community Watchdog to keep an eye on council spending and behaviour. He has constantly attacked ratepayer-funded trips as both a resident and now a councillor, but on Tuesday his own antics came under the spotlight.
River Gum Ward councillor Wayne Smith moved that council officers prepare a report, to come back to council by the first meeting in April, on the number of travel request searches made by Cr Paul Richardson.
Cr Smith moved that the report also investigate the estimated costs involved.
“What information can he not get from council agendas? I imagine this will go into the thousands of dollars,” he said.
Cr Mick Morland said the travel searches were taking council officers away from more important projects.
“He (Richardson) has been doing this for several years and this takes council officers away from their work. We have wonderful staff and we train them well and it is just a catastrophe to have uneducated councillors,” he said.
Due to council guidelines, if one councillor requests information that is not ward specific, such as Cr Richardson’s requests for travel information, all 11 councillors are entitled to a copy of that information.
“When he asks for this information it has to be given to all councillors,” Cr Morland said.
“That is 11 times-fold and it is costing ratepayers money.”
Cr Richardson denied his travel campaign was costing ratepayers money.
“No, they are not costing anyone. It is part of council’s duty to provide this information and some councillors will do anything to stop these figures being released,” he said.
“This is not causing any problems or any costs and I intend to keep seeking this information and providing the information to residents.