‘A relic of the past’: City of Belmont councillor Lauren Cayoun fights to slash City’s $50,000 catering budget

Ratepayers in blue-collar Belmont are “doing it tough” but councillors will continue to graze on three-course meals and enjoy an open bar before meetings despite a seven-year campaign by one of their colleagues to end the “extravagance”. City of Belmont councillor Lauren Cayoun wanted to drastically cut the City’s $50,000 catering budget by serving councillors sandwiches and finger food before meetings, but the proposal was overwhelmingly defeated. Cr Cayoun has also previously moved for staff and councillors to foot their own bill for alcoholic drinks consumed at the councillor bar but that was also resoundingly crushed. “These sorts of extravagances are a relic of the past and are not in line with modern community expectations,” she said. “At a time when everyone in Belmont is doing it tough, I think it’s pretty reasonable to expect councillors to give up these sorts of perks. The City of Belmont forks out tens of thousands of dollars a year to offer staff and councillors a choice of five buffet-style hot meals, a cheese platter and a dessert platter to tuck into before all council and committee meetings. A councillors’ lounge with an open bar is also available for staff, councillors and visitors to use, but the City repeatedly declined to answer how much it spent on alcohol at ratepayers’ expense last financial year. This week The West Australian revealed staff leaving the City of Belmont were paid out nearly $1 million in golden handshakes over the past five years. City of Belmont acting chief executive Melanie Reid said the current per head cost for a meal was $23.70 minus staffing costs. “The 2020-2021 annual budget allowance of $48,000 for catering of meals is not exclusively for agenda and ordinary council meetings. It also covers catering costs for information forums, standing committee meetings and councillor workshops,” she said. Neighbouring City of Canning budgets $15,000 a year to serve a simple dinner to councillors and staff after meetings. The Shire of Peppermint Grove, Australia’s smallest council, spent $1497 on drinks and $6473 on meals last financial year.