ONE of the many impacts coronavirus has had on our lives in a short time has been the NSW Government postponing all council elections across the State until September 2021.
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The obvious impact of this is that Kempsey Shire Council's current councillors will remain in office for a further 12 months, however this decision also has impacts on a number of council's planning, reporting and engagement processes that are tied to the election cycle.
At the May council meeting, councillors addressed a number of logistical issues arising from the delay, including discussions around renaming Kempsey Shire Council.
Although council has long intended to investigate a name change, work on the issue is at a very early phase, having been already delayed due to coronavirus.
Councillors agreed that, with the postponement of the election and the anticipated financial impacts of COVID-19, further engagement on options for a potential name change was not a priority this calendar year.
It was agreed that council staff would prepare a report on the potential costs and benefits associated with a name change and present this to councillors at a budget workshop so that the question may be considered in the context of council's 2020-21 Operational Plan.
The key component of any work on a new name would be extensive community engagement, measuring the public desire for a change, gauging responses to various options and determining preferred name options.
Finally, if pursued, the issue will go to voters in the form of a poll on ballot papers as part of the September 2021 council elections.
Another impact of the postponement addressed at the meeting was councillors' roles for the coming year.
Having been popularly elected directly to the position in 2016, Liz Campbell will continue as Kempsey Shire mayor until the next election. The role of deputy mayor, presently held by Cr Anthony Patterson, is elected from council. As such, the council will vacate and fill the role at the September meeting.
The May meeting also confirmed a variety of committee and panel roles for councillors that would extend until the new election date.
