Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan is calling on fellow Councillors to adopt a voluntary freeze for councillor fees this year and join forces with staff to contribute to their ‘Workplace Giving Program’.

The Mayor has praised the commitment of staff who are continuing to deliver service to the community during the COVID-19 crisis.

He commended the initiative of the staff ‘Workplace Giving Program’ to help support frontline community service providers, as a way staff are paying it forward.

Last week, staff supported a ‘Workplace Giving Program’ that creates an opportunity for staff to voluntarily contribute the value of the annual Award increase that will go to local registered charities.

This follows a decision by the Council’s executive team including the CEO, Directors and Executive Managers not to accept any pay increase this year.

Mayor Regan says councillors should join the staff giving program and contribute the value of their annual fee increase.

“This is no time for Councillors to be rewarding themselves.

“Our community is suffering, people have lost their jobs and local businesses are at a loss struggling in unchartered territory,” he said.

“I am proud of the hardworking staff at Council who are doing their best to protect the health and safety of our community. Many of their own households have been hit hard by the impacts of this crisis.

“As the largest local employer with over 80% of our workforce living locally, they are invested and their families rely on them. Now is the time for Council to support them so they can make a difference to our local economy,” said Mayor Regan.

“I am calling on fellow councillors to do the right thing for our community. We must not accept any salary increase this year.

“We are in this together with our staff and our community.

“In the face of the extreme hardships being endured by everyone, now is not the time to use COVID to score political points.”