COUNCILLOR Warren Aubin has reaffirmed his position that a council-run health committee would be "worthless" in the fight for better services in Bathurst.
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At Wednesday's meeting of Bathurst Regional Council, resident Jan Page criticised his comments on the front page of the October 5 Western Advocate, made in response to a suggestion from councillor Jess Jennings.
Cr Jennings had called for council to reform its health committee, so it could work with the Western NSW Local Health District to get more services for the community.
He felt the council committee could complement the existing Bathurst Health Services Action Group.
Although Ms Page complimented him on his work with the action group, she accused Cr Aubin of putting his personal views before what's in the best interests of the community.
"Council, with its duty to the residents of our area, should be at the forefront of this fight and there are two councillors ideally suited to under take that role," she said, referring to councillors Jennings and Jacqui Rudge.
"It would appear that a decision to not reinstate the council committee is motivated by personal opinions and ambitions."
Ms Page said the community action group has a role to play in getting better health services, but it could "never be the voice of the council".
"I strongly urge councillors to move beyond self interest and to do your duty. Reinstate the health committee as a matter of urgency," she said.
On Friday, Cr Aubin maintained that a council-run committee would continue to be fed "sugar-coated" reports from the health district about the state of services.
"The action group is not run by council and therefore, having members of the group within the medical system, we know exactly what is going and can't be misled," he said.
Alternatively, Cr Aubin would support a hospital board made up of community members, including a council representative, that hospital management had to report to.