SHOALHAVEN City Council has deferred a decision on whether to accept recommendations from the Independent Commission Against Corruption aimed at minimising corruption risks in the development approval process.

The matter will be discussed in councillor briefing and then come back to council to be resolved.

Council’s general manager

had recommended elected

councillors adopt a number of

the recommendation in ICAC’s position paper.

That included keeping a record of how councillors vote in development committee, providing reasons for calling in development applications before council and giving reasons for making decisions that fall outside council policy.

Councillor Gareth Ward unsuccessfully urged council to approve the changes during the ordinary meeting on Tuesday.

Cr Ward said council must be seen to be open and accountable.

“The ICAC hearing into Wollongong Council has given local government the opportunity to review and improve the manner in which councils approach such sensitive matters as development and the development approval process,” he said.

On Tuesday Cr Rebecca Rudd expressed concern the councillor briefing to discuss the matter would exclude the public.

“I think this is a really important issue and the community should be able to hear the full debate,” she said.

Following considerable debate, council passed a motion to allow the media to attend the briefing.