Fresh delay for SES funds

Almost two years to the day since the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder council unanimously agreed to apply for a Local Government Grants Scheme loan to fund a new SES headquarters, the project has been hit with yet another delay.

Despite voting to give themselves a six-week window to address the ongoing funding deadlock at their last meeting, the matter was brought back for debate on Monday night.

However, the measure was unable to gain the support of seven councillors required for it to be approved.

Spurring debate on Monday night was Cr Suzie Williams, who admitted she was "mortified" to raise an alternate motion which effectively asked her counterparts to impose an additional delay on the drawn-out funding process until the next council meeting.

The motivation for her request, labelled "incomprehensible" by fellow councillor Beth Richardson, was to account for the outcome of a meeting between Mayor Ron Yuryevich, City chief executive Don Burnett and Emergency Services Minister Joe Francis scheduled for next Tuesday.

It is understood the City will use the meeting to argue they should not be held responsible for associated start-up costs for the project - which the Department of Fire and Emergency Services estimates to be $321,011, but the City says will be $460,000.

Responding to questions from the _Kalgoorlie Miner _yesterday, Mr Francis confirmed he was scheduled to meet representatives from the City, but would not be drawn on whether he would consider changing the scope of the Emergency Services Levy.

Deputy Mayor Allan Pendal cautioned councillors against basing their decision on the expectation Tuesday's meeting would provide a clear outcome.

With Mr Yuryevich and Cr Mick McKay unable to vote on the item because of a declared conflict of interest, and councillors Laurie Ayres, Lisa Malicky and Deborah Botica on a leave of absence, the vote was tied four votes all.

Cr Pendal - who oversaw the debate in Mr Yuryevich's absence - used his casting vote to defeat Cr Williams' alternate motion.

The subsequent vote for the original agenda item, which required the support of an absolute majority or seven members, was also defeated five votes to three.

The outcome was an obvious blow for Cr Richardson, who has consistently argued council should award the tender on the basis the Local Government Grants Scheme was never intended to relinquish local governments of a shared responsibility towards the provision of emergency services.