A DRAFT Inclusive Wangaratta Plan (2024-2029) has been scrapped following an estimated two years of consultation on the plan.
At the September council meeting, Mayor Dean Rees moved to cease all further work on the development of the plan until the newly elected council has an opportunity to consider how it wishes to proceed.
The motion was carried only hours before the council election caretaker period was initiated.
Mayor Rees said the current inclusion policy is still a workable document, but it is part of the Local Government Act that council has to upgrade the policy as it has expired.
"This process may take on a different form and shape for the new council to decide and I would like to decide on it but haven't got the time," Cr Rees said.
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"We have got to make a decision on something and we've only got tonight.
"I don't want to vote on something I am not happy with, so I'd rather leave it."
Cr Irene Grant said the plan was one she could not endorse as there were too many inconsistencies and it had not been worked through well enough.
She said the policy had no resemblance to the previous policy and it had not looked at the community in a broad and holistic way.
The now defunct plan included feedback with a wide range of views on diversity and inclusion in Wangaratta.
Terminology was also queried, including the scope and coverage of the plan in terms of the groups in society that it sought to support.
Key issues raised in the plan included the actions around inclusive toilets and the terminology used.
The display of flags was also noted in submissions with a range of views on the position council should take on the issue.
Six councillors voted in favour of discontinuing the plan, while Cr Jack Herry was against the move.
