An article appeared in the February/March issue of the Friend on the considerable expenditure by councillors on travel. Attending workshops, conferences, study programmes and the like are all part and parcel, it seems, of the heady business of being a councillor. 

You might think that us residents and ratepayers are poised to benefit by way of having our councillors more learned than they were before. And thus able serve us more cost-effectively, more efficiently and, perhaps, even more professionally

But if this is the aim of all those workshops, ‘business’ meetings and out-of-town jollies then we are not getting our moneys’ worth. Because there are seldom report-backs, no solid evidence (agenda, minutes, etc) that the individual did indeed attend whatever it was and no visible improvement in efficiency.

Meetings are still cancelled at the last minute. Agendas do not go out timeously. And the Minutes, if they ever appear, are produced so long afterwards that it’s almost impossible to track actionable items.

Councillors serve the ratepayers and residents of Prince Albert. And as such should carry out their duties in a transparent and accountable way. They need to make decisions that are in our best interests from within a democratic framework that relies on frequent consultation with community members, ward committee members, and organised interest groups.You need to know what your taxpayer’s Rands are being spent on by way of travel, conferences, workshops, etc. And, most importantly, you need to know how you, your family or your community stand to benefit.