On the Local Government News Roundup for Monday 3rd February:
- Allegations of conduct breaches by a metro mayor
- A call for an end to speculation after a CEO’s suspension
- The council appealing a Fair Work Commission ruling to the Federal Court
- Abuse and threats towards staff and councillors at a Sydney council
- Another council to consider a hefty rate increase
- A second Qld mayor claims she is being silenced
- A WA council split on the appointment of a new CEO
- and a major UK Council could become the first to introduce monthly bin collections
All of that and more on Australia’s number one local government podcast, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association.
Listen to this episode here, and find the link for your podcast player here.
Here is all the news from episode 422:
Victorian Roundup:
Whittlesea City Council has called a special meeting for Tuesday evening to consider “potential breaches of the Model Councillor Code of Conduct” by the Mayor Aidon McLindon.
Cr McLindon recently announced his candidacy for this weekend’s Werribee by-election, and has taken personal leave until the conclusion of the election campaign.
Cr Daniela Zinni has assumed mayoral duties while Cr McLindon is on leave.
Earlier this month, a statement was released by the remaining ten councillors seeking to clarify recent social media commentary about Council policies.
It said policies are adopted by a majority of Councillors siiting as Council, and not by any individual councillor.
The statement also emphasised that comments made by Cr McLindon as a candidate were personal views and don’t represent the position of the Council.
An agenda for tomorrow night’s meeting has been published online, but the details are designated as confidential and the matter will be considered in a closed session of the Council.
The Mayor and Acting CEO of Hobsons Bay City Council have issued a further statement with regard to the suspension of its CEO Aaron van Egmond.
The statement reiterates that Mr van Egmond remains suspended, pending further investigations, and that the Acting CEO has taken immediate steps to ensure the safety of staff and a fair, comprehensive and respectful investigation of a range of concerns.
The Council has asked for an end to speculation about the matters under investigation, and that names or identifying information of Council staff not be published int the interests of staff safety and procedural fairness.
It follows reports from some media outlets naming at least one additional suspended executive, and speculating about others.
Alpine Shire Council will apply for a higher rate cap for the coming financial year,.
The decision follows a review of the potential impact on the Council’s future revenue from a Ministerial change to the definition of a service rate or charge.
The Council estimates that $350k of its waste management charge is currently being raised to be expended on managing public place waste.
The higher rate cap, if granted, would move that revenue from the waste management charge to general rate revenue, if the Council chooses to adopt a higher cap when setting its rates and charges during its upcoming budget process.
Higher cap applications can be made for up to four years at a time, and must be submitted to the Essential Services Commission by 31st March.
There were no applications submitted last year, and there are no higher rate cap variations currently in place.
Central Goldfields Shire Council is appealing a Fair Work Commission decision that mandates multi-employer bargaining with Ararat Rural City Council, arguing that the process fails to account for different regional challenges.
While pursuing the appeal in the Federal Court of Australia, interim CEO Sally Jones said the Council will continue negotiations with unions and Ararat Rural City Council, prioritising the financial sustainability of its operations.
A collective of local governments across the state are celebrating after the green light was given for the Victorian Goldfields to seek World Heritage Listing.
The addition of the Victorian Goldfields to Australia’s World Heritage Tentative List signifies a major step forward in the efforts to achieve UNESCO recognition, which can only receive a formal nomination for consideration following 12-months of Tentative List status.
15 councils, led by Greater Bendigo and Ballarat, have formed a partnership to pursue the World Heritage recognition highlighting Goldfields sites including Castlemaine, Creswick and Beechworth.
Consultation and engagement over the next 12 months will be aimed at gathering support for the bid to move forward.
East Gippsland Shire Council has unveiled three major foreshore projects at Lakes Entrance worth over $3.5 million.
They include the culturally significant Krauatungalung Walk, an inclusive Lakes Foreshore Park, and a new Water Sports Pavilion.
Mayor John White said the developments aim to enhance the coastal town’s appeal while promoting inclusivity and accessibility for the benefit of locals and tourists.
Victorian Briefs:
A night time cat curfew has come into effect in Banyule Council this week.
Cats must be contained to the owner’s property between 7pm and 7am, and there will be a 6 month adjustment period before enforcement notices will be issued.
The One Gippsland advocacy alliance has a new leadership team.
South Gippsland Shire Councillor Nathan Hersey has been elected as Chair, and Bass Coast Shire Mayor Rochelle Halstead is deputy chair.
They will lead the alliance for the next 12 months.
Moyne Shire Council has signed the Age-Friendly Victoria Declaration, demonstrating a commitment to supporting its aging population through improved accessibility, social inclusion, and community care services.
Statistics show the shire’s median age of 45 is well above state and national averages,.
Whitehorse City Council has launched a WeChat account called “Councillors Whitehorse” to better engage with and serve its Chinese community, which comprises over 13% of the local population.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association.
Over the next four years, the VLGA will be rolling out a suite of training that directly aligns with the mandatory training requirements set out in the Local Government Act 2020.
VLGA training focuses on enhancing councillor capabilities and ensuring elected representatives are well equipped to represent their communities.
A full program prospectus will be released in the coming weeks, along with a Councillor Professional Development Policy, which will guide councils across Victoria on how to implement the mandatory requirements in a way that best suits their individual councillors’ learning needs.
To find out more or register for the training, get in touch with the team at the VLGA by calling (03) 9349 7999 or email vlga@vlga.org.au
National Roundup:
NSW:
Northern Beaches Council’s vote for a 39.6% rate increase over three years has led to significant backlash, with CEO Scott Phillips reporting that staff and councillors have faced abuse and threats.
The Daily Telegraph reported that incidents have included workers being spat on and threatened with violence.
Mr Phillips said the behaviour of a small number of people was unlike anything he had witnessed in a long career in local government.
The Council’s narrow decision to proceed with the rate application requires approval from IPART which is not expected before May.
Meanwhile, as Northern Beaches Council continues to deal with the fallout from its rates decision, another Sydney Council is going down a similar path
North Sydney Council is proposing an 87% rate increase over two years to address financial issues that largely stem from the troubled $122 million Olympic pool redevelopment project.
The proposal is for a 45% increase in 2025/26 followed by a 29% increase the next year, and comes after cost blowouts and delays in the pool project have left the council’s finances in an “unsustainable” position, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
The proposal is due for debate at a council meeting scheduled for the 10th February.
Murray River Council is seeking the support of other regional councils to advocate for increased Commonwealth Financial Assistance Grants.
The Council is calling for a return to the 1996 level of 1% of Commonwealth taxation revenue from the current 0.5%.
The council’s mayor and CEO have been authorised to actively lobby other councilS to join the campaign.
A motion to ban alcohol consumption at the Griffith City Council building has finally been defeated in a 5-4 vote, according to a report from Region Riverina.
Deputy Mayor Anne Napoli proposed the ‘booze ban’ motion, which had previously been deferred.
Opposing councillors included Mayor Doug Curran, who noted that only $931 had been spent on alcohol for 23 people during 2023/24.
Dubbo Regional Council has secured $14.6M in federal funding from the Growing Regions Program to upgrade the Dubbo Regional Airport runway, which will be matched by Council funding to enable larger air tankers like the Hercules to operate from the facility.
The upgrade will strengthen the main runway, taxiways, and aprons to enhance bushfire fighting capabilities, increasing statewide resilience during natural disasters while reducing the burden on ratepayer funds.
QLD:
Redland City Council Mayor Jos Mitchell is under investigation by the Office of the Independent Assessor for potential code of conduct breaches, according to the Courier Mail.
It follows claims she made in a Facebook video about not being invited to a council forum in the Southern Moreton Bay islands.
Two allegations have been referred to the OIA by the Council, with a third considered but ultimately withdrawn.
Cr Mitchell has also spoken out in the wake of Ipswich Mayor’s concerns about being gagged by her council, saying she has faced the same thing.
She says a change was made to Redland Council’s media guidelines without her knowledge, barring her from speaking on behalf of the council when she has voted against a majority decision.
Meanwhile, Ipswich City Councillor Paul Tully says his proposed changes to the council’s media policy was just a “small amendment”, and he has told the ABC that it is not an attempt to gag Mayor Theresa Harding.
Mayor Teresa Harding viewed it as an attempt to limit her ability to comment on council matters., and described it as an political attack.
Local Government Minister Ann Leahy said she is watching developments at the council, and expressed concern that the motion doesn’t align with community expectations.
A motion to increase **Rockhampton Regional Council’**s number of councillors from seven to eight has been defeated.
Councillor Shane Latcham brought forward the motion and was the only councilllor to vote for it.
Another motion submitted by Cr Latcham to allow individuals to nominate for mayor and councillor positions concurrently at council elections lapsed for want of a seconder.
Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli has called for a round table discussion of key stakeholders, including all levels of government, to explore comprehensive public transport solutions for the region.
Cr Natoli is putting the focus on short and long-term infrastructure needs, including heavy rail from Beerwah to Caloundra, while emphasising the opportunity presented by the Brisbane 2032 Olympics to secure lasting transport improvements.
National Briefs:
Fiona Cunningham, Brisbane City Council‘s finance chair and Coorparoo ward representative since 2019, has won an LNP party room ballot to be Brisbane’s new Deputy Mayor .
Cr Cunningham is expected to be confirmed in the role, following Krista Adams’ recent resignation.
Temora and Bland Shire Councils have secured $341,660 in funding for six drought resilience projects .
The projects are aimed at improving housing, economic data, workforce development, community support, mental health, and water efficiency, with completion expected by November 2025.
Port Lincoln has been named one of Australia’s top ten most welcoming cities according to Booking.com‘s 2025 rankings, marking its second appearance on the prestigious list and standing as the only South Australian city to receive the recognition.
The rankings are based on over 360 million reviews from travellers, and Mayor Diana Mislov said the recognition belongs to the people of Port Lincoln all of whom play a vital role in welcoming visitors.”
WA:
The Town of Cambridge Council has paved the way for contract negotiations with the preferred candidate to be its new CEO.
But the decision was not unanimous – in fact it passed by just one vote, and those voting against included Mayor Garry Mack.
The outcome of the vote was revealed when the council returned from a closed session to deal with the matter.
The identity of the preferred candidate is not yet known.
NT:
The Lord Mayor of Darwin has defended plans to build a new $150 million civic centre, to be funded through reserves and borrowings.
The NT News reported that Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis told a public forum last week the current civic centre is costing $1M per week to maintain, citing issues with blocked toilets, failing air conditioners, and non-compliance with modern building regulations.
He says complaints about the plan and the cost are unjustified, and a spokesman confirmed that bringing the building up to current standards is cost-prohibitive.
SA:
Whyalla City Council has secured $30 million in State and Federal Government funding for a major airport runway upgrade, with the council contributing an additional $2.4 million to the $32 million project.
The upgrade will enable the airport to accommodate larger aircraft and support the city’s growth, particularly in relation to the State Government’s Hydrogen Jobs Plan.
Global Roundup:
UK:
Bristol City Council is considering changing its black bin collections from every two weeks to every three or four weeks, according to BBC News.
That would make it the first major English city to have four-weekly collections, a move expected to save up to £2.3m annually.
The controversial proposal aims to boost recycling rates and reduce environmental impact, but its facing pushback from opposition parties who argue the current waste collection service needs improvement first.
Birmingham City Council, which effectively declared bankruptcy in September 2023, has been criticised in an auditor’s report for multiple serious failings.
BBC News reported that those issues include a botched IT system implementation, inadequate housing services, and issues with special educational needs services.
The report has highlighted a problematic organisational culture of avoiding bad news and protecting personal reputations, though it noted the council is taking appropriate steps to address its financial situation.
Leicester City Council has hit back at Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills, after its latest inspection findings of its children’s services rated the authority as requiring improvement in all areas.
According to BBC News, the inspection noted a decline in performance since the last inspection four years ago, with concerns raised about support for vulnerable children and response times to children experiencing neglect.
Deputy Mayor Sarah Russell said the report doesn’t accurately reflect their service and that inspectors failed to recognise areas of good practice.
USA:
A Nebraska council has voted to allow a police dog to retire with his former handler, after public backlash against an initial refusal.
Valley City Council voted to allow the reunion of K9 Sonic with his handler, but that decision was vetoed by the city’s mayor.
Concerns were raised in the community about the welfare of the dog in a kennel.
Police1.com reported that the council has now overruled the mayor’s veto decision and K9 Sonic has been allowed to retire to his former handler’s farm.
CANADA:
A council in Prince Edward Island is considering legal action over what they describe as slanderous social media claims regarding Buddhist land holdings.
Yahoo News reported that members of Three Rivers Council have ****strongly denied accusations of accepting bribes or financial benefits from the Great Enlightenment Buddhist Institute Society (GEBIS).
Criticism has focused on the council’s perceived support of Buddhist land ownership, but council members maintain that land protection and ownership falls under provincial jurisdiction, not municipal control.
NZ:
Palmerston North City Council has proposed a controversial policy to ban fizzy drinks and other sugary beverages at its sports venues.
The New Zealand Herald reported that the council wants to promote healthier lifestyle choices, but critics say it’s government overreach and a “nanny state” approach.
The policy, which could be implemented as early as March, has received mixed feedback through 56 submissions, with health organisations supporting the move while some ratepayers and event organisers oppose the restrictions on consumer choice.