Public meet cancelled

Less than a month after a proposal to close agenda briefing meetings to the public was rejected, a meeting has been cancelled at late notice after “no one turned up”.

Town of Port Hedland Mayor Camilo Blanco cancelled the public portion of the public agenda briefing last Wednesday after a prior meeting ran late.

Public agenda briefings allow elected members and the public to ask questions on agenda items before ordinary council meetings.

The meeting would have allowed the public and councillors, both new to the table after the elections late last month and those with long-term experience, to discuss items on the agenda such as an RSPCA funding proposal, the South Hedland taxi rank report and the Community Safety Advisory Forum terms of reference.

A Town spokeswoman said as no members of the public attended, it was cancelled, however reporters from the North West Telegraph had attempted to attend.

The cancellation comes as a late item was added to the council agenda to live stream council meetings.

The item was incited by a Facebook post from members of the public, querying interest in live streaming the monthly meetings.

Councillor Julie Arif wrote in response to the post, saying she had raised the idea already to chief executive David Pentz.

This month’s council meeting will be held at the Civic Centre on Wednesdayat 5.30pm.