History was made last night in Cooma at the first meeting of the new Snowy Monaro Regional Council term.
Elected to the positions of Mayor and Deputy Mayor (through to September 2023) were Mayor Narelle Davis and Deputy Mayor Tanya Higgins. This is the first time the region has had all-female leadership plus a majority female-led Council (6 of the 11 Councillors).
Despite the torrential downpour and a late venue change in order to maximise social distancing in a COVID-safe manner, our region's new Council met at the Cooma Multifunction Centre yesterday to commence the induction process, followed by their first Council meeting where they took their Oath or Affirmation of Office before electing Councillors to be Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Councillor Bob Stewart was the other nominee for Mayor, with Councillors Chris Hanna and Louise Frolich nominated for Deputy Mayor.
The new Snowy Monaro Regional Council is:
• Narelle Davis - Mayor
• Tanya Higgins - Deputy Mayor
• John Castellari (returning Councillor)
• Peter Beer (returning Councillor)
• Bob Stewart (returning Councillor)
• John Last (returning Councillor)
• Christopher Hanna
• Tricia Hopkins
• Karlee Pateman
• Lynda Summers
• Louise Frolich
There was a shorter agenda than normal on the night due to the constraints of the election and Christmas/New Year periods, but our new Councillors got right to work.
The first item on the agenda was the setting of meeting dates and times for this term of Council, with Councillors voting unanimously that Council meetings now be held from 1pm every third Thursday - beginning earlier than the current time of 5pm. The new meeting time will come into effect from the March 2022 meeting.
Councillors also voted to send CEO Peter Bascomb, Mayor Narelle Davis, Deputy Mayor Tanya Higgins and Councillor Lynda Summers to the Local Government NSW Special Conference from Monday 28 February to Wednesday 2 March 2022. This is an important networking and educational event for Councillors, many of whom are beginning their local government political careers or resuming them after some time away.
Biographies and information on your new Councillors will be added to Council's website soon.
