Not for the first time – nor for the last time, it seems – Warrnambool City Council’s ordinary meeting on Monday, February 1 was far from that and again ended with controversy.

Just two meetings after all councillors declared the rise of Kylie Gaston to mayor was a fresh start for a fractured chamber, the optimism was clearly a false dawn.

Cr Gaston, in an attempt to run a tight ship, enforced time limits on all speakers during the meeting.

The limits are outlined in the city’s local laws but have rarely been enforced.

In isolation the move makes sense.

No-one likes a meeting that goes on and on. But the limits were like a red-rag to a bull to vocal councillors such as Peter Hulin.

Cr Gaston’s limits were no doubt designed to end grandstanding by some of her colleagues and force greater focus on the issues on the table.

But judging by comments after the meeting, the move is being seen as an attempt to silence councillors and is an attack on free speech.

Cr Hulin sees his unsuccessful push for general business to be returned to the agenda as a roadblock to effective representation.

It was also clear from Monday night’s meeting that the much-talked about four-to-three voting bloc exists. Three notices of motions were defeated 4-3.

Regardless of which camp you sit, the seven existing councillors have the city’s best interests at heart. But they rarely agree. That is democracy at work.

The problem for the council is its perception outside the chamber. Residents want strong, effective and accountable leaders. They want the city to progress.

Any personal differences or allegiances around the table are irrelevant to voters who just want the right and best decisions made.

Prospective candidates are already declaring their hands, ready to mount challenges to the incumbents.

The problem for sitting councillors is that the political games are a distraction to the real purpose.

With elections on the horizon, it seems the heat will only rise.

From a ratepayers’ perspective, it would be nice to see the pace of initiatives increase. That’s the main game.

The rest is a sideshow we could all do without.