Council staff had recommended that council accept the invite to be one of 15 council’s recognised for their leadership in terms of innovative emission reduction and community based climate change projects.

The up sides were identified as access to an exclusive grants program, shared ideas and project outcomes, increased profile through media opportunities and no ongoing costs.

But despite everyone saying it wasn’t about climate change and trying to keep politics out the discussion, there was an obvious tension in the debate which appeared to fall along party lines.

Councillor Jo Dodds was in wholehearted agreement that council should take advantage of the opportunity but councillor Robyn Bain was concerned because she didn’t know who the Climate Council was and in reference to the ‘Cities Power Partnership’ name pointed out that we didn’t live in a city..

 “The climate council is independently funded. Formerly it was a government organisation and then the government withdrew funding and it is funded by donations. I agree we’re not a city. Many of the councils would be a metro councils and I take it as very positive that a smaller council has been invited,” council’s director planning and environment Andrew Woodley responded.

“But who are we signing up with. I’m not opposed to it but I want to be reassured,” Cr Robyn Bain said.

Councillor Cathy Griff said the Climate Council was very well known and council’s general manager Leanne Barnes said the organisation was kept afloat through one of the largest crowd funding programs.

But Cr Robyn Bain wanted to defer the motion to the next meeting to “know who we’re having a relationship with”.

“The Climate Council has been around for a while and it is incumbent on us to do the research,” the mayor Kristy McBain said in a comment that appeared to light Cr Roybn Bain’s blue touch paper. 

“If the research is done who is chairman and who are the directors of this group. Can anyone here tell me without googling?” Cr Robyn Bain demanded.

“Not one of you know who are the directors. Don’t lecture me in terms of doing your homework. We cannot vote on stuff we don’t know,” Cr Robyn Bain added.

Councillor Tony Allen added that it was a procedural matter.

“We don’t have the information and we’re asking council to defer this for three weeks,” Cr Allen said.

But in the end only Crs Mitchell Nadin, Robyn Bain and Tony Allen voted against the motion for council to join the Cities Power Partnership which also approved the mayor, or delegate to represent council at appropriate events related to the partnership.