The motion, put forward by Councillor Paul Spencer, was lost after he was the only person to vote for it at Thursday's council meeting.

However, deputy mayor Danny Gibson moved an alternate motion for an audit of the committee that passed unanimously. It is understood there was a review of the committee scheduled for the end of last year.

Councillor Tim Walker seconded the original motion for the purposes of having the discussion.

The original motion asked for all tenders more than $10,000 to be brought to the council for a decision, rather than the panel.

Councillor Jim Cox, who chairs the tender committee, said the committee was the third step in the tender process after the council calls for project tenders and tenders submitted, then it goes before a panel of council officers.

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Cr Spencer believed the councillors around the table had enough knowledge to complete the tenders.

Councillor Andrea Dawkins said disbanding the committee based on the experience around the table was "dangerous" because not all the councillors would be the council in the future.

Councillors Hugh McKenzie and Cr Gibson, who have both sat on the committee previously, said they had seen continued improvement in how the process works. Councillor Janie Finlay said she also had confidence in the current tender process.

Councillor Nick Daking and Cr Spencer also sit on the committee.

All councillors spoke about the item, except Councillor Karina Stojansek. Councillor Rob Soward was not at the meeting.

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