Face to face meeting split

Mayor Steve Christou successfully instigated the mandated return, saying “conducting councillor briefings via web conferencing has not been as effective as meeting in person”.
“Councillors leave their workstations for extended periods, do not display the full faces and councillors on the web conferencing service, often do not participate and contribute,” he said.
However Councillor Lisa Lake said she felt like she was being transported back to about 1974, labelling it as “quite disrespectful” to suggest councillors were not contributing to workshops because they’re “streaming in”.
“You know, many, many people are working from home and zooming in and having quite extensive conferences briefings and meetings, and there isn’t an issue, and it’s happening all over Sydney,” she said.
“I just think this level of inflexibility is nasty and purposeful and disrespectful.”
Highlighting concerns about fellow Councillor George Campbell, Cr Lake noted that being aged over 70, he was a “vulnerable person” when it comes to Covid-19.
“It’s entirely appropriate that he can make a decision about the best way that he can perform his functions as a Councillor in these circumstances,” she said.
Describing the tone as “offensive” and “arrogant”, Cr Campbell said the Mayoral Minute was sent to councillors “just two minutes” before the meeting and put them “in the position of either complying with [the Mayor’s] whim or with the government’s health warnings.”
However Cr Ned Attie supported the move, highlighting concerns about online security for confidential discussions, while Cr Joe Rahme was also in support of the move.
“If you’re good enough to be out and about visiting different offices and interacting and having meetings in different places with people throughout the LGA, I think you’re good enough to come and represent your constituents in the chamber,” Cr Rahme said.