TWO Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors who attended a United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris late last year have fulfilled their requirements to report on the trip and itemise their expenses.
Councillors Hugh Fraser and the mayor Graeme Pittock spent 10 days in Paris and attended several other sessions, including the climate summit for local leaders and seminars on renewable energy, smart cities, waste, urban agriculture, low carbon development and water and climate finance.
At the Monday 11 July council meeting, Cr Pittock said it was worth noting that there had been no conference fees, no public transport costs, and that many things on the trip had been largely “gratis”.
The itemised expenses, which included $2976 each on accommodation and $2400 each on airfares, came to $6769.60 for Cr Pittock, while Cr Fraser’s came to $6225.99. The amounts have been attributed to the councillors’ conferences and seminars account.
The shire’s renewable resources team leader, Jessica Wingad, also attended.
The councillors provided a public presentation in the council chambers at Rosebud on 12 December and provided conference material and a summary of their experience.
The pair’s attendance saw the shire invited to commit to a Compact of Mayors – a global coalition of mayors and city officials committed to reducing greenhouse gas emission and other efforts to reduce climate change.
A report by mayor and councillor support officer Tracie Cook noted that by providing an itemised list of expenditure, the pair had fully complied with requirements of a council directive on 23 November last year that they provide “a fully itemised expenditure report” after their trip.
First published in the Mornington News – 19 July 2016
