Toowoomba City Council - dead councillors walking ...

You would think it reasonable that some research into existing operations be conducted before tripping off to the South Australian wine country to examine alternatives.

But no - a request by Cr Manners for Council to defer a trip to an Adelaide cemetery in order to prepare an economic assessment on the Toowoomba funeral industry failed to find any support among either the gaggle of Yes councillors or the two No councillors.

Much better for Cr Beer, 'other interested councillors' and an assorted Council hangers-on to use ratepayers funds on flights and accommodation for a 'fact finding' trip to Adelaide.

There must be a sense of panic in the Council - such is the near desperate rush to get in a few more 'perk' trips before the 2008 elections.

The last trip to Adelaide was Councillor Schneider's trip to inspect a flag pole last November! (See - Councillor Schneider's flag pole visit.)

Fearful of a 'wave of change' about to wash over the Council following the 2008 Council elections, you can expect Councillors concerned about their re-election chances as well as senior Council staff to start reinventing both themselves and the image of the Council.

Twelve months is a long time in politics and anything is possible but the damage seems to have been done.

The Mayor and Councillors elected in 2004 have very little credibility in the community - they are seen as 'dead councillors walking' by a majority of voters keen for a change in direction and a desire for their elected officials to listen to the community.

Cr Manners' reasonable request falling on deaf ears is symptomatic of the problems within the Toowoomba City Council and only a complete clean out of all other elected officials in March 2008 will allow the process of rebuilding Toowoomba's image both within Qld and interstate to commence ...