A STIRLING councillor has had a crack at the city’s transparency after it emerged accessing information about political affiliations isn’t a walk in the park.
In June, councillor Stephanie Proud moved to set up a voluntary online register for councillors to disclose political party memberships (“Party’s over for Proud idea,” Voice, June 13, 2019), but staff recommended against the proposal on the basis the information was already publicly available in the councillors’ annual returns and it was voted down.
But good luck getting a look at those documents if you work a nine-to-five job: The only way to see them is to make an appointment to see paper copies in person at the council’s Cedric Street premises during office hours.
“It is little wonder that over the past 12 years, there have been less than six requests by members of the public to inspect the register,” Cr Proud said.
Her motion had been based on a similar system at Bayswater where one click brings up councillors’ party memberships.
Perth Voice Interactive 
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