Shire of Harvey axes bootscooting policy for council facilities after review determines it is irrelevant

A policy by a South West council to stop linedancers wrecking floors in shire buildings has been given the boot.

The Shire of Harvey has decided to scrap its decades-old rules aimed at preventing boot scooters damaging facilities after staff determined it was no longer relevant.

The policy has been in place since September 2000 and was most recently updated in December 2015.

But elected members voted to kick it out at last month’s council meeting following a review of policies related to building services.

Shire president Michelle Campbell said common sense prevailed when it came to those hiring out council facilities for the activity.

“I know at Settlers Hall (in Leschenault) they used to do bootscooting there and there was some concern years ago over the damage it was doing to the wooden flooring there,” she said.

“But other than that, in my time on council I haven’t had a need to drag out the bootscooting policy.”

Staff determined the policy was no longer relevant due the shire’s approval process for the hiring of council facilities, which meant hirers are required to reimburse the Shire if any loss or damage occurs during their lease.

Cr Campbell said she had previously taken part in bootscooting herself but was “useless” at the dance moves.

“But I did like the music and ... I did contemplate going back to boot scooting, but I haven’t quite got there yet,” she said.

The bootscooting policy was one of 16 scrapped at the meeting, with another being one adopted in March 1997 which provided an incentive to people with information which could lead to a conviction of those responsible for damaging council property.

It was axed due to there being no budget allocation towards the scheme.

Cr Campbell said she was aware of other councils taking those responsible for property damage to court, but it was not something the shire had pursued.

Other scrapped polices included those to do with housing standards, advertising signs, retaining walls and building heights, which are now covered by the shire’s district planning scheme, local planning policies or residential design codes.