CITY of Swan council has rejected a bid to delay public consultation on a ward boundary review, defeating the revocation motion nine votes to six at a special meeting.

Midland/Guildford ward councillor Rashelle Predovnik said a pause would allow the city to address governance concerns and errors in the discussion paper before residents were asked to comment.

“The concerns this revocation motion has raised are not emotional. They are based on governance concerns,” she said.

She questioned how councillor-generated options were assessed and whether changes to the review’s scope had been formally communicated to all councillors.

After the meeting, Cr Sarah Howlett said the paper misrepresented Whiteman’s position.

“The fact is, Whiteman is actually over-represented not under-represented as staff have shown in red throughout the paper so in fact any correction need not affect the Midland/Guildford ward,” she said.

Public speakers raised concerns about data clarity, boundary changes and reduced Midland/Guildford representation.

Acting chief executive Sarah McQuade acknowledged the paper contained an incorrect definition but maintained the underlying figures and modelling were correct.

“As we have said the descriptor we have used in the paper was incorrect but the formula itself does not need to change and is not incorrect,” she said.

Staff said corrections would be made before consultation and emphasised the options were examples rather than final decisions.

Opposing the revocation, Cr Cate McCullough argued consultation would allow residents to respond to, amend or propose alternatives to the options.

“Council remains free to amend, remove, or add options once feedback comes in,” she said.

“No final decision has been made.”

Cr Predovnik maintained the community deserved an accurate paper before consultation began.

The debate also revisited her unsuccessful August motion, which sought further work, a broader range of options, a status quo option and updated data.

That motion did not specify two additional options, as reported by Echo News last week, and was defeated eight votes to six, with Cr Shaynon Dean among its supporters.

The September revocation was supported by councillors Jennifer Catalano, Dean, Howlett, Ian Johnson, Nav Kaur and Predovnik.

The remaining eight councillors and Mayor Tanya Richardson voted against.