At the second time of asking, Maranoa Regional Council has voted to put the Roma Rec Centre out for open tender. The decision is the same as taken in the last Council meeting a week ago though the margin was tighter at 5 votes to 4.

Council was forced to reconvene after the original decision was found to be "ultra vires" (beyond their powers) due to the lack of a rescission motion overturning the January decision to give first option to the PCYC.

Cr Bartels submitted a rescission motion and the Council met at 4.30pm Christmas Eve to make the decision.

Despite the unusual time, the gallery was packed with supporters of the current lessees and the PCYC.

The rescission motion was passed 5-4 with Crs Bartels, Hartley, Watson, Denton and Chambers voting in favour and Crs Loughnan, Newman, Price and Wason against.

Cr Bartels then resubmitted his motion to extend the current lease (which expires in February) to June 30 and put the lease out to open tender.

That motion was also passed 5-4 with all councillors voting the same way as the rescission motion.