Another municipal monitor is about to be appointed to a Victorian Council.
That development leads this edition of the Local Government News Roundup.
Also today: a preferred new name identified for Moreland City Council; a new contract for the City of Melbourne’s CEO; a rural council votes to continue January 26 ceremonies; and a Qld mayor charged with drink driving to take unpaid leave.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, your national broadcaster for all things local government.
Listen now on your preferred podcast app: www.podbio.me/lgnewsroundup
Transcript (with links):
Issue 137, LG News Roundup, 3rd July 2022
Another municipal monitor about to be appointed to a Victorian Council.
That development leads this edition of the Local Government News Roundup.
Welcome to the bulletin for the 3rd July. I’m Chris Eddy.
Also today: a preferred new name identified for Moreland City Council; a new contract for the City of Melbourne’s CEO; a rural council votes to continue January 26 ceremonies; and a Qld mayor charged with drink driving to take unpaid leave.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, your national broadcaster for all things local government.
Developments at Horsham Rural City Council lead this weekend edition of the Roundup.
That council will become the latest to have Municipal Monitor appointment, following discussions and a formal request in early June from the Mayor and CEO to then-minister for local government Shaun Leane.
In a statement, the Council said it has expressed concerns to the Minister about governance practices.
Calls for a monitor have been supported by local member for Lowan, Emmy Kealy, who told ABC Ballarat during the week that she had raised the issue with Minister Leane on a number of occasions over the last 12 months due to concerns with how the Council was functioning.
This week, incoming Minister Melissa Horne announced that the request had been granted, with details to follow about who the monitor would be along with terms for their appointment.
The developments follow a vote by the Council to request an investigation of one its councillors in relation to an alleged misuse of position.
As reported by the ABC, the council is asking the Local Government Inspectorate to look into an allegation that Cr Di Bell failed to declare a conflict of interest during a confidential council meeting.
It’s understood the matter relates to Australian Service Union concerns about how bullying complaints have been handled in the council workplace.
In media reports, Cr Bell said she was unaware the allegations were to be raised at the Council meeting this week. She denied the allegations and said she has always operated with integrity.
https://amp-abc-net-au.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.abc.net.au/article/101191544
Melbourne City Council has reappointed its CEO Justin Hanney on a new four year deal, which will take him through to the end of June 2026.
Mr Hanney joined the organisation in 2019, prior to the challenges of COVID 19.
Lord Mayor Sally Capp paid tribute to Mr Hanney’s leadership through the pandemic, saying the city is stronger, more cohesive and more customer focussed since his arrival.
The reappointment was confirmed at a Council meeting on Tuesday night. http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/news-and-media/Pages/City-of-Melbourne-CEO-reappointed.aspx
(Herald Sun, 30-6-22, p.3)
The likely new name for Moreland City Council has emerged, with the Council revealing 59% of respondents prefer Merri-bek over the other two surveyed options – Jerrang, and Wa-dum-buk.
At a special Council Meeting today in Glenroy, the Council will consider a recommendation to support Merri-bek as the preferred option.
Mayor Cr Mark Riley said 6,315 community members had participated in the survey, in what he said was the most engagement ever on a Council project.
If endorsed today, the preferred name will be submitted to the Minister for Local Government for consideration, with final approval by Governor in Council.
A decision by Glen Eira City Council has reportedly put in jeopardy any hopes of a capacity crowd at this year’s Caulfield Cup.
According to a report in the Herald Sun, the Council voted against plans for a new deck and events space at Caulfield Racecourse, despite it having Heritage Victoria and State Government support.
The works are reported to be almost finished, just requiring council sign off that all was in accordance with a permit approved by the Minister for Planning.
Herald Sun, 30-6-22, p.9
Strathbogie Shire Council has voted to continue conducting January 26 ceremonies, after receiving the results of community consultation on the matter.
The weight of community sentiment landed with the option of retaining current arrangements, while the Council position was determined by just one vote.
Mayor Laura Binks said the engagement process had resulted in robust conversations around a complex issue, and she thanked the community for their contributions.
In today’s Victorian briefs:
The new authority charged with transforming Victoria’s waste and recycling systems has commenced operation. Recycling Victoria came into being on 1 July and will deliver the services previously run by the Waste and Resource Recovery Groups.
RV will work closely with Sustainability Victoria and the EPA, and will monitor and enforce the transition to a statewide four bin household waste and recycling system.
https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/transforming-victorias-waste-and-recycling-system
Surf Coast Shire is calling for an urgent investigation into the health of the Anglesea River, noting increasing community concerns.
Data shows flows in the river have dropped to about 10 per cent of long term averages. The Council will formally ask regulator Southern Rural Water to conduct hydrogeological modelling to explain the interaction between surface and groundwater in the catchment.
Briefing sessions at Indigo Shire will not be opened up to the public, after a motion brought forward by Mayor Bernard Gaffney was defeated at the June Council meeting.
The motion was listed on the agenda for a third time after being deferred on two previous occasions. After some spirited debate, the motion was voted down by 4 votes to 2.
Sad news this weekend with the passing of Jane Garrett, Member for Eastern Victoria from cancer. She was a former government minister with portfolios including emergency services and consumer affairs, and was due to leave parliament at the end of the current term in November.
Ms Garrett was elected to Yarra City Council in 2008, and served as Mayor in 2010. She was just 49 years of age.
https://www.anu.edu.au/alumni/our-alumni/spotlight/hon-jane-garrett
https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/statement-premier-109
Still to come – a Qld mayor charged with drink driving to take unpaid leave; two WA councils attract the displeasure of the local government minister; and a controversial decision to reinstate the name of a disgraced former mayor on local assets in Ipswich.
You’re listening to the Local Government News Roundup for 3rd July 2022, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association.
A quick plug for an upcoming session that may be of interest – Better Disagreements, Better Teams.
In a highly anticipated online session on 5th August, Melissa Scadden of Justitia Lawyers and Consultants will delve into the characteristics of effective teams that create an environment for better disagreements. And how disagreements can be used to create better teams.
Elected representatives and council staff from around Australia are invited to be part of this special online session. You’re invited to register your interest by emailing vlga@vlga.org.au
Now for some stories making news around Australia in local government this week:
The Mayor of Redland City Council is taking unpaid leave after charges were laid yesterday in relation to a recent traffic accident.
Karen Williams has been charged with allegedly being more than three times over the limit when she crashed a Council- owned vehicle on 23rd June.
Last night it was reported that she is taking unpaid leave from her position as mayor until the matter is dealt with by the courts.
In a statement reported by the ABC, she said she had received death threats which have taken a heavy toll on her family and staff.
Local government minister Steven Miles is believed to be seeking advice in whether the charges give him the power to suspend or remove Ms Williams from office,
Previously, Mayor Williams resigned her position on the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games Organising Committee amid controversy over the incident.
The Southeast Queensland Council of Mayors held a secret ballot on Friday, selecting Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart as its new representative on the committee.
Ms Stewart was elected Mayor of Noosa Shire in 2020. She joins Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner as the two local government representatives on the committee.
The Courier Mail reported yesterday that Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate had wanted to be considered for the position, but that his name was not on the ballot and he is not a member of the SEQ Council of Mayors.
Courier Mail, 2-7-22, p.12
Former Senator, Rex Patrick, is reportedly considering a run at Lord Mayor of Adelaide later this year.
Mr Patrick, whose senate term has just concluded, told the Adelaide Advertiser this weekend that he had been approached about a potential bid for the position.
His name is being put forward as someone with the skills to deal with reported dysfunction on the Council.
It’s believed he will make a decision of whether to run within the next month.
(Adelaide Advertiser, 3-7-22)
A Western Australian Council’s opposition to a children’s hospice development has drawn the ire of the state’s local government Minister, John Carey.
The City of Nedlands has voted against supporting the Perth Children’s Hospice on various grounds, which the minister says are frivolous excuses, not planning considerations.
The West Australian has reported those concerns to include the potential for the site to be damaged if the nearby army base were to be attacked.
The Council voted against an officer recommendation to approve the development with conditions.
Meanwhile, another WA council has incurred the disappointment of the Minister after implementing a fee for play equipment on street verges.
The Town of Cottesloe has voted to charge $300 to place trampolines, cubby houses and swings on verges, plus in some cases an annual fee for inspections.
Minister Carey says the council has got it wrong, and pointed to other council examples, like the City of Vincent, where there are no permits or fees required for similar activities.
The Council says the permit fees are necessary to pay for the assessment regime that would require approximately 190 pieces of play equipment to be inspected.
Minister criticises Cottesloe verge fee for play equipment | PerthNow
Ipswich City Council has backtracked on a previous decision to remove the name of a former mayor from a local road and bridge.
Ex mayor Paul Pisasale is serving jail time for corruption and sex offences. Last year, the Council resolved to remove the Pisasale name from the bridge and road, but this week that decision was overturned.
The ABC reports that Cr Paul Tully moved to reinstate the names, and it received majority support from his councillor colleagues.
The decision has attracted criticism from Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding, as well as the Queensland Premier and Opposition Leader.
After last year’s decision, the signage was removed from the bridge and the road, and the Council will now incur the cost of reinstating those signs.
https://amp-abc-net-au.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.abc.net.au/article/101199610
Archeologists are assessing a railway turntable unearthed near the Beaudesert Railway Station during works on a town centre revitalisation project.
Scenic Rim Council has appointed a cultural heritage team to redesign critical drainage infrastructure as a result of the discovery.
The turntable is approximately one metre below ground, and the Council is seeking to ensure it remains untouched while works continue on the project.
It’s believed the turnable dates back to the late 1800s.
Briefs:
A resignation from Wentworth Shire Council in NSW has triggered a countback process, on a date yet to be announced.
Greg Evans has stepped down after nearly six years. Seven unsuccessful candidates from the December 4 council elections are eligible to apply to be considered in the countback process.
WSC Statement on the resignation of Greg Evans from Council
Experienced local government general manager Hamish McNulty has been appointed as the interim CEO at Snowy Valleys Council, following the resignation of Matthew Hyde who is heading to Wodonga as CEO.
Mr McNulty was previously GM of Cumberland Council. He takes up the interim role on Monday, 4th July.
Council Appoints Interim CEO – Snowy Valleys
An extraordinary election at the Town of Cambridge in WA will be conducted by attendance voting.
Voters will need to attend one of two polling booths on August 27 to elect a replacement for Rob Fredericks, who resigned from the council in April.
Meanwhile, an extraordinary postal election will be held in the Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes in WA on the 5th August.
There are two vacancies to be filled for terms that expire in October 2023, and October 2025 respectively.
International Spotlight:
A new councillor census in the UK reveals that 7 in 10 councillors have experienced abuse and intimidation in the last 12 months.
The UK local government association survey of current serving councillors showed that many believe abuse is becoming more common, with some experiencing it multiple times or on an ongoing basis.
Social media was the most common place for abuse to take place, but two thirds had experienced abuse in person
The LGA said councils are calling for government to work with local authorities and partners to urgently address toxic discourse and abuse against councillors or risk long-term impacts on local democracy and representation.
At New Plymouth District Council in NZ, the mayor has expressed confidence in the council leadership team after its CEO went on leave suddenly.
Stuff.co.nz says it is believed the leave is due to an employment matter, and commenced after an emergency confidential council meeting held via Zoom on Thursday.
CEO Craig Stevenson is in the fifth year of his contract with New Plymouth.
A statement issued by the mayor did not shed any light on the reason for the CEO’s leave or its likely duration.
Meanwhile, the CEO of Waimakariri District Council has resigned for health reasons after just 15 months in the role.
Jim Harland was previously CEO at Dunedin for 11 years.
The Local Democracy Reporter says Mr Harland will leave the council at the end of this week.
That’s the latest from the Roundup, thanks to the Victorian Local Governance Association, your national broadcaster for all things local government. Subscribe to VLGA Connect on YouTube and podcast for regular sessions with local government identities and decision makers.
I’ll be back with more news from around the world of local government on Wednesday. Until then, thanks for listening and bye for now.