The City of Nedlands may become the second WA council to introduce superannuation payments for elected members.
The council voted narrowly in favour of a motion submitted by Cr Kerry Smyth to prepare a report on the implications of the move which is expected to come before the council in November.
Cr Smyth argued that the change would encourage diversity in those able to take up the role of councillor, and pointed to an expected 50 percent increase in workload for councillors with a forthcoming reduction in the number of elected members.
Earlier this year, the City of Stirling was the first WA council to resolve to become an eligible governing body which enables the council to make compulsory superannuation payments for councillors on top of their allowance.
The second tranche of reforms to the local government legislation in Western Australia is expected to include changes to superannuation measure for all councils in the state.
City of Nedlands administration estimates the additional cost of introducing compulsory superannuation now to be in the order of $35K.