A move to increase councillors’ accommodation allowance in capital cities from $320 a night to $500 a night has been labelled ‘‘absurd’’ by one Shellharbour councillor, but supported by others.
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The council’s review of payment of expenses and provision of facilities policy is now on public exhibition.
The 46-page document has been substantially reviewed this year with significant changes made in the areas of insurance expenses and legal assistance for the mayor and councillors.
Cr Peter Moran said the large number of changes proposed was proof the current policy was complex and unclear.
He welcomed many of the revised changes, but questioned the need to lift the accommodation allowance for capital cities from $320 to $500.
‘‘Councillors generally know we are going to attend a conference months in advance,’’ Mr Moran said.
‘‘...I’m sure if I book a room in Sydney months in advance we could find a room for $320.’’
Cr Kellie Marsh said that it was ‘‘absolutely absurd’’ for a council like Shellharbour to look at spending $500 a day on accommodation for a councillor.
Mayor Marianne Saliba said there were occasions when a councillor might need to attend something at short notice for whatever reason and might not be able to get accommodation at a lower rate.
The council’s general manager, Michael Willis, said the public should be clear it was not for councillors to ‘‘self select’’ where they went, and it was up to him to ensure that the accommodation booked was reasonable.
According to the council’s annual report, the cost for the seven councillors in the 2013-14 financial year was $198,856, which included the mayoral fee of $38,160, councillor fees of $122,430 and $19,851 in conference and seminar expenses.
The annual report shows the council’s general manager, Mr Willis, was paid a total remuneration of $323,831, while the council’s three directors were paid a total remuneration of $578,357.
The proposed payment of expenses and provision of facilities policy is open for public comment until February 9.
So, if Shellharbour City councillors were to upgrade their capital city accommodation allowance from $320 to $500, just what would that money buy?
If a councillor wanted to stay next door to Russell Crowe at the boutique Blue Sydney hotel on Woolloomooloo Wharf, it would mean they could upgrade from the $301-a-night ‘‘Superior Wharf Room’’ to the $420-a-night ‘‘Luxury Marina View Loft Suite’’.
The 34-square-metre Superior Wharf Room is described as an intimate room with king bed and shower, while the 46-square-metre Luxury Marina View Loft Suite comes with a deluxe bathroom with a separate bath and shower, a king bed and water views towards the city skyline and Royal Botanical Gardens.
In both rooms they will sleep between premium 250-thread count cotton blend sheets, with goose-down duvets and pillows, and both come with 32-inch TVs with internet access, broadband high-speed internet Wi-Fi access, DVD player, in-room movies, and an in-room safe.
A $500 accommodation allowance, however, would also give councillors access to a number of five-star Sydney hotels.
At the Intercontinental Sydney, for example, $490 will get you into a ‘‘King Superior Cityside Room’’ with views of the city skyline and free access to gym and indoor swimming pool.
Or, for $458 a night, councillors could bed down in the Sir Stamford at Circular Quay in the ‘‘Executive City Suite’’ where an ‘‘elegant entrance leads into a welcoming stylish and sophisticated sitting room, complete with lounge suite and mahogany writing desk’’. The bedroom has a king bed with additional LCD TV, and French doors opening on to balconies overlooking the city.