28 SEPTEMBER 2017
ELECTED for Two Years
Michael Regan (Mayor)
Candy Bingham (Deputy Mayor)
Article C/O Protect Pittwater
Guess who's mayor and who's deputy? And what do you think was the first issue to be considered by Northern Beaches Council?
See in photo back row: Alex McTaggart (1st on right); Michael Regan (2nd from right); Vince de Luca (5th from R).
Front row: Natalie Warren (1st on R); Ian White (2nd from R); Candy Bingham (3rd from R); Kylie Ferguson (last from right).
Front row: Natalie Warren (1st on R); Ian White (2nd from R); Candy Bingham (3rd from R); Kylie Ferguson (last from right).
It appears the fears of many in Pittwater that the Warringah proposal to amalgamate all three Northern Beaches Councils into one would result in a loss of autonomy for our area has been confirmed with the results of last night's elections for mayor and deputy on the new Northern Beaches Council.
Former Warringah mayor Michael Regan has come out on top in the council, assembled at its Dee Why chambers last night, extending his domain over Manly and Pittwater.
Michael claimed the title with a two-year term after an open vote of 8 to 7 over former Pittwater mayor and state MP Alex McTaggart.
The two new councillors were the only nominations for mayor. Your Northern Beaches Independent Team voted as a block in support of Michael, including Pittwater’s Ian White.
Michael was also supported by Curl Curl Green Natalie Warren and Good For Manly councillor Candy Bingham. (Local Greens groups are autonomous and may vote how they choose.)
In good spirits after the vote Michael said: “I’m looking forward to the next two years and making Northern Beaches Council the best council on the planet.”
Alex attracted the support of Liberal councillors including Pittwater’s Kylie Ferguson, as well as claiming the vote of Narrabeen Independent Vince de Luca.
Good for Manly councillor Candy Bingham won the contest for Deputy Mayor from Kylie Ferguson, with voting following the same pattern as for mayor and Michael reciprocating Candy’s support for him.
He congratulated the Manly councillor on her win for the position, which has a one-year term, saying: “”It’s going to be a fun 12 months.”
One change noted later in the meeting by Vince was the name for the council’s leading member of staff from “General Manager” (at now merged bodies) to “Chief Executive Officer”. The role is filled by former Pittwater GM Mark Ferguson.
And who could guess what the most pressing (and only) item of business was on the agenda for the council’s first meeting? A rescission motion, passed unanimously, to allow unleashed dogs back at Manly Lagoon on weekends and public holidays – following their banning by former administrator Dick Persson.
Manly Swimming Club was not so lucky, with the not-for-profit group’s access to the local council-controlled swimming pool to be governed by the “user pays” principle (Mark Ferguson) and arranged “by the end of the year if not before” (Michael Regan). Shame the season starts on October 8.
Former Warringah mayor Michael Regan has come out on top in the council, assembled at its Dee Why chambers last night, extending his domain over Manly and Pittwater.
Michael claimed the title with a two-year term after an open vote of 8 to 7 over former Pittwater mayor and state MP Alex McTaggart.
The two new councillors were the only nominations for mayor. Your Northern Beaches Independent Team voted as a block in support of Michael, including Pittwater’s Ian White.
Michael was also supported by Curl Curl Green Natalie Warren and Good For Manly councillor Candy Bingham. (Local Greens groups are autonomous and may vote how they choose.)
In good spirits after the vote Michael said: “I’m looking forward to the next two years and making Northern Beaches Council the best council on the planet.”
Alex attracted the support of Liberal councillors including Pittwater’s Kylie Ferguson, as well as claiming the vote of Narrabeen Independent Vince de Luca.
Good for Manly councillor Candy Bingham won the contest for Deputy Mayor from Kylie Ferguson, with voting following the same pattern as for mayor and Michael reciprocating Candy’s support for him.
He congratulated the Manly councillor on her win for the position, which has a one-year term, saying: “”It’s going to be a fun 12 months.”
One change noted later in the meeting by Vince was the name for the council’s leading member of staff from “General Manager” (at now merged bodies) to “Chief Executive Officer”. The role is filled by former Pittwater GM Mark Ferguson.
And who could guess what the most pressing (and only) item of business was on the agenda for the council’s first meeting? A rescission motion, passed unanimously, to allow unleashed dogs back at Manly Lagoon on weekends and public holidays – following their banning by former administrator Dick Persson.
Manly Swimming Club was not so lucky, with the not-for-profit group’s access to the local council-controlled swimming pool to be governed by the “user pays” principle (Mark Ferguson) and arranged “by the end of the year if not before” (Michael Regan). Shame the season starts on October 8.