Lord Mayor candidate Philip Cocker: Candidate Points to Performance

Alderman Philip Cocker today announced his candidature for Mayor of Hobart City Council. Alderman Cocker said he was keen to alert ratepayers to his record as the Chair of the Council’s Finance, Superannuation and Audit Committees.

When I became the Chair of the Finance Committee rate rises of 5% per annum were projected for the next ten years and budget deficits had been the norm. With my colleagues we have this year delivered a minimal CPI rise this year and Council enjoys a very healthy surplus.

We have examined all of the 300 services that council undertakes and searched hard for efficiencies without lessening of service and in many cases we have improved service provision.

As the Chair of the Superannuation Committee we have revived a defined benefit scheme that post the GFC was considered out of control. This work required major restructuring to restore it to a fully funded scheme. This work is now complete.

The next four years for Hobart City Council is one of delivering the Gehl liveable city projects which the council is financially prepared for.

We are ready to fund stage one of the Battery Point Walkway as it passes the planning stage.

As the Chair of these committees I have led in a cooperative manner, a marked improvement in the Council’s financial position and we now have the capacity and ability to fund major city improvements.

I have also strongly pushed shared arrangements with other councils where it has delivered efficiencies.
Philip Cocker Alderman Hobart City Council