THE Deputy Mayor of Wellington Cllr Catherine Govier admitted she had previously made a mistake in supporting a decision to pay co-opted councillors an allowance.

Cllr Govier’s comments came during another heated debate at Wellington Town Council on February 3 over whether members who had been co-opted onto the council should receive an annual allowance for their work.

The council voted in favour last year of awarding all councillors an allowance – regardless of whether they were co-opted or elected.

Cllr Mike McGuffie put forward a motion at this month’s full council meeting to have that decision reversed because he said it was breaking national rules.

And Cllr Govier, who had previously voted in favour of paying co-opted members, told councillors she had changed her mind.

“I’ve looked more closely at the legislation and I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t think we can pay co-opted members,” she said.

“I admit I’ve voted wrongly in the past over this and I now support Cllr McGuffie’s motion. I feel uncomfortable about us paying allowances to those who’ve been co-opted – although I do feel it’s totally unfair.”

Cllr Keith Wheatley said allowances could only be paid to elected members was “ambiguous” as co-opted members were elected by existing councillors.

“But last year we voted on this and decided against dividing us up into sheep and goats and that we were one body – so we all get an allowance,” he said. “I find it disrespectful that Cllr McGuffie has brought this back so quickly to revisit a decision already taken by councillors.”

Cllr McGuffie responded by saying his motion was “in no way disrespecting other people’s point of view.”

Cllr Steve Mercer stormed: “I can’t find the words. I feel so strongly about what we’re discussing. It’s iniquitous (unfair) that some councillors could be treated differently.”