From the Far End of the Council Table - 19 July 2009
Date: 19-Jul-09
Author: Councillor James Ryan
What is the role of a Council?
I copped plenty of flack last week because I brought up the issue of crowd behavior at our sports grounds. As most people would know there was a widely publicized issue of verbal abuse of a female touch judge at a Cessnock rugby league match a couple of weeks ago. The Newcastle Herald made big headlines out of it and it reflected badly on the whole community.
I suggested a positive action for Council would be to make a statement that this type of behavior was not supported by the Cessnock community and that Council would look at the license agreements we have with all sporting clubs to see if there was anything we could improve on in terms of making sure adequate codes of spectator conduct were in place etc.
Well I have been fiercely criticized for bringing the subject up.
Firstly it was said that Council had nothing to do with it and the League Club are dealing with it. That is true. Dealing with the incident is up to the League Club and I understand they are dealing with it very thoroughly and have been congratulated by the Newcastle League. Further the Cessnock Club is unable to make public statements until the issue is finally resolved.
However my purpose was not to deal with the actual incident but to counter the bad impression an outsider might have of Cessnock by reading those headlines. Some people said this was still nothing to do with Council. Well in my view Council is not just a dull authority which collects your garbage, fixes potholes and charges you rates. The Council takes an active role on social issues and, whether it has been an ALP or Independent led Council, it does so proudly.
For example Council sponsors and promotes the Academic Achievement Awards to encourage young people, we contribute to the Cessnock Art Gallery and we operate the Performing Arts Centre. The Council helps out with NAIDOC Week, runs a youth service and regularly supports health programs in the local community. The Council has taken an active role in campaigning against the privatization of Cessnock Gaol, the downgrading of Kurri Hospital and is attempting to make it easier to attract Doctors to our town. Most obviously of all the Council runs the Libraries. None of these activities are in the roads, rates and garbage category. Cessnock Council is a socially responsible Council.
So when it comes to the issue of spectator behavior at Councils sporting grounds there is no reason why the Council shouldn't ask the question - is there anything the Council can do to assist sporting clubs manage the issue? However the majority of Councillors disagreed with me.
Make sure you have your say.
