Discussion Paper - Elected Member Numbers

CONSULTATION DOCUMENT

Number of elected members

As a process of continual improvement, Sandstone Council is undertaking a review of the number of elected council members.

Local governments with a population below 5,000 are permitted between 5 – 7 elected members. Sandstone has six elected members.

Council is seeking the community feedback on yes or no to reduce the number to 5 or retain the 6 positions

A Discussion Paper with points for and against reducing the number of members is located on the Shire website or can be acquired by contacting the Shire administration via email administration@sandstone.wa.gov.au

Should any change to the status quo occur, the Council decision will be forwarded to the Local Government Advisory Board for further consideration.

Submissions will close at 4:00 PM on 13 August 2026

The Council has not made any decision on the proposal and will consider all proposals when discussions submissions at the Council Meeting of 27 August 2026.

The below outlines the various factors for and against both options and at this time Council has not made any decision nor expressed any opinion on its preferred option.

Peter A. Money

Chief Executive Officer

Shire of Sandstone

26.06.2026

DOWNLOAD DISCUSSION PAPER HERE

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SHIRE OF SANDSTONE DISCUSSION PAPER REDUCE ELECTED MEMBERS OR STATUS QUO

Advantages of an Uneven Number of Elected Members

1. Reduces the risk of tied votes

• Councils often vote on planning approvals, budgets, policies, and motions.
• An uneven number ensures a clear majority, avoiding procedural delays or repeated votes.

2. More efficient council meetings

• Less time spent on:
  • procedural motions,
  • calling for a casting vote,
  • or deferring decisions.
• Helps maintain public confidence that the council can actually govern.

3. Avoids over‑reliance on the Mayor/Chair’s casting vote

• In local governments, the President has a casting vote when the council is tied (s5.12(3)).
• An uneven number reduces the frequency of this, which:
  • avoids perceptions of bias,
  • prevents concentration of power in one person,
  • and keeps decisions more democratic.

4. Helps maintain stability during absences

• Councillors may be absent due to illness, conflicts of interest, or travel.
• With an uneven number, the council is less likely to fall into a tie when one or two members are missing.

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Advantages of an Even Number of Elected Members

1. Easier to maintain proportional representation of community views

• In at‑large elections, an even number can make it easier for different community groups or voting blocs to gain representation.
• It reduces the chance that one faction gains a majority simply because of an extra seat.

2. Supports balanced committee or portfolio assignments

• Even numbers allow:
  • equal distribution of workload,
  • balanced committee membership,
  • and fair pairing for joint responsibilities.
• This can improve governance efficiency and reduce internal tension.

3. Encourages consensus‑building

• With the possibility of tied votes, members are more motivated to:
  • negotiate,
  • compromise,
  • and seek middle‑ground solutions.
• This can lead to more stable, broadly supported decisions.

4. Prevents dominance by a single “swing vote”

• In odd‑number councils, one councillor can become the decisive vote on every close issue.
• An even number avoids this concentration of influence and can reduce political pressure on individual members.

5. Useful when the President has a casting vote

• Local government give the President a casting vote only in the event of a tie.
• With an even number:
  • the President’s role as tie‑breaker becomes a deliberate, transparent mechanism,
  • rather than an accidental concentration of power.
• This can strengthen the legitimacy of decisions.

6. Flexibility for future expansion or reduction

• Even numbers make it easier to:
  • add or remove seats in pairs,
  • adjust council size as population changes,
  • or restructure without disrupting balance.

7. Can reduce adversarial politics

• When no side can rely on a built‑in majority, councillors may:
  • collaborate more,
  • avoid bloc voting,
  • and focus on issue‑based decision‑making.

Key Points
There are many points that favour both an even and an uneven number of elected members. The decision lies with the Council and the community to decide which is best for them.

Will reduced representation:
will residents feel they have less representation with less members?
will residents feel outcomes can be swayed by a very small pressure group?

To consider:
One less member in a very small population will lessen the need for extraordinary elections when seats can’t be filled.
The savings in real dollars for one less elected member is not significant.
End of document