On the Local Government News Roundup for 11th November 2023:
Councillors subjected to death threats after a resolution on the war in Gaza;
The first municipal monitor for Glenelg announced, as well as the appointment of an Acting CEO;
Parents protest proposed child care centre closures;
A council condemns a spate of public vandalism;
A mayor removed from office over a serious corrupt conduct finding;
A former mayor escapes jail time for blackmail;
A roundup of the week’s mayoral election results;
Plus financial strife, suspensions and dismissals in our international spotlight.
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Victorian Roundup:
Merri-bek Council’s resolution condemning Israel and calling for a ceasefire in Gaza has raised criticism from the Victorian Premier, and a death threat against a councillor.
According to the Herald Sun, Jacinta Allan was critical of the council for involving itself in the issue, saying it was best left to world leaders not local governments in Melbourne to negotiate an outcome.
She said the focus in Victoria should be on ensuring people affected are supported and that the community in Melbourne feels safe.
Four councillors voted against the Merri-bek motion on Wednesday night, and have been subjected to threats.
Oscar Yildiz said he opposed the motion because he feels the issue is not within the remit of local government.
In a social media post, he said that he had been subjected to unimaginable hate, death threats and threats against the safety of his family, as had the other three councillors who voted against then motion.
Sue Bolton, the councillor who brought the motion forward, and Mayor Angelica Panopoulos have said it is appropriate for councils to stand up for human rights locally and internationally.
Experienced state and local government practitioner Jim Gifford has been announced as the first of two municipal monitors to be appointed at Glenelg Shire Council.
The second monitor will be announced once probity processes have been completed.
The three-month term of the municipal monitors commences on Monday, 13th November, in accordance with Terms of Reference published earlier this week.
They are charged with monitoring the Council’s governance function, having specific regard to key areas of concern raised by the Mayor in correspondence to the Local Government Minister.
The monitors will be required to report to the Minister on any recommended actions for improving governance, the proper performance of the Council’s statutory role, and any matters relating to the conduct of councillors.
In announcing Mr Gifford’s appointment on Friday, Local Government Minister Melissa Horne said he “will use his experience, skills and knowledge to great effect in this important task”.
Glenelg Shire Council also announced the appointment of former Hindmarsh Council CEO Greg Wood as its Acting CEO for a term of up to six months.
It said the process for appointing a permanent CEO, following the recent resignation of Paul Phelan, would continue under the guidance of the municipal monitors.
More than 100 parents protested in Glen Eira this week, over the council’s proposal to close three childcare centres in the city.
As previously reported on the Roundup, Glen Eira Mayor has expressed concerns about the cost of running and upgrading the centres, which are described as no longer fit for purpose.
The council is due to make a final decision on the proposed closures next month.
9News reported the concerns of protesting parents, some of whom say they will have to quit their jobs if unable to find alternative child care.
The council maintains there will be enough places to meet current and future demand, with the council centres currently accounting for just two per cent of available childcare places.
Horsham Rural City Council has condemned the vandalism at the Horsham Botanic Gardens, which has cost the municipality more than $15,000.
Three toilet bowls and an electric hand dryer were smashed with large rocks, and a defibrillator was pulled from a wall and left in the gardens.
HRCC Mayor Robyn Gulline said the vandalism was unacceptable and damaging the town’s reputation in the eyes of tourist who visit the botanic gardens.
Vandalism has also been an ongoing problem at the Horsham Skate Park, where the council has installed CCTV cameras.
The council envisages the rollout more CCTV to secure evidence and pursue vandalism culprits.
Now to round up the week’s mayoral election outcomes..
At Colac Otway Shire, two councillors were nominated for the mayoralty including last year’s mayor Chris Potter, but it was Margaret White who was elected with an absolute majority of votes. The council also resolved on a 4-3 vote to not establish an office of deputy mayor.
Cr Ian Bye was re-elected as mayor of Wellington by an absolute majority vote, from three nominations, and will serve a third consecutive term.
Cr Gayle Maher was elected to the position of deputy mayor.
Cr Alan Getley was re-elected as mayor of Buloke Shire Council with an absolute majority. The only other nomination was former mayor Cr Daryl Warren.
Cr Bronwyn Simpson was elected unopposed as deputy mayor.
At Moorabool, Ally Munari, Paul Tatchell, Moira Berry, and Tonia Dudzik were all nominated.
Multiple rounds of voting were required before Ally Munari achieved an absolute majority to be elected as mayor; the council resolved to not have a deputy mayor.
Glenelg Shire has elected Karen Stephens mayor; and resolved to not have a deputy mayor.
Cuc Lam will serve a second term as mayor of Maribyrnong City, after first holding the position in 201718. Former mayor Michael Clarke will serve as deputy.
The new mayor of Bayside is Fiona Stitfold with Alex del Porto to hold the deputy mayor position.
Maroondah City Council has elected Kylie Spears as its 28th Mayor, and it will be her second time in the role. Paul McDonald is a first-time deputy mayor.
For the first time in its history, Kingston City Council has an all-female leadership team, with Jenna Davey-Burns elected Mayor, and Tracey Davies as deputy mayor. They are both first-term councillors serving in those roles for the first time.
Port Phillip City Council has re-elected Heather Cunsolo as mayor for a second consecutive term, and former mayor Louise Crawford was elected deputy mayor.
At Hindmarsh, Brett Ireland has been re-elected as mayor, with Wendy Bywaters taking on the deputy mayor role for the final year of the current term.
And last night, Matt Tyler was elected as a first-time mayor of Hobsons Bay, with Pamela Sutton-Legaud elected unopposed as deputy mayor.
Victorian Briefs:
Darebin City Council has been recognised at this year’s Victorian Early Years Awards, announced on Thursday night.
It was the only council to be named among the 10 winners, receiving the Creating Collaborative Community Partnerships award for the Darebin Best Start Aboriginal Reference Group.
A nationwide shortage of cat vaccine is behind a change to cat trapping services at Hume City Council.
Cat trapping has been suspended until at least February next year, which is the earliest the situation is expected to improve.
The council says the decision is to reduce the number of cats needing to be taken to shelters.
Voting is underway for the 2023 LGPro board elections. There are 14 nominees from councils across the state, contesting for 10 positions on the board, with the outcome to be announced at the AGM on 23rd November.
National Roundup:
NSW:
The NSW ICAC has found that Canada Bay Mayor Angelo Tsirekas engaged in serious corrupt conduct, and should be removed from civic office.
In a report released on Thursday, ICAC found Mr Tsirekas sought and/or accepted benefits from a developer, including overseas flights and accommodation valued at least $18,000.
It said the serious corrupt conduct also included failing to disclose a conflict of interest when required to do so.
The commission has recommended prompt consideration of the suspension of Mr Tsirekas from civic office with a view to his dismissal.
It has also made four corruption prevention recommendations to prevent the recurrence of conduct exposed in its investigation.
It is seeking advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions on whether any prosecution should be commenced against Mr Tsirekas and two other individuals.
Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig moved quickly on Thursday to suspend Cr Tsirekas from office, with immediate effect, and with a view to dismissal for serious corrupt conduct.
He said if Cr Tsirekas is dismissed, there are processes in place to enable the Canada Bay councillors to fill the mayoral position for the remainder of the current council term.
Canada Bay Council posted a message to its website advising that ****Deputy Mayor Joseph Cordaro will be performing the functions of the Mayor during the suspension.
City of Ryde Mayor Sarkis Yedelian OAM has called out some of his councillors for making unauthorised comments to the media on sensitive matters, contrary to the Council’s Code of Conduct and proper process and protocol.
Mayor Yedelian issued a public statement after being contacted by many people in response to media articles about the Council’s financial situation and the Ryde Central town hall project.
He said he was limited in what he could say due to ongoing inquiries by the Office of Local Government, ICAC and the NSW Audit Office.
Mayor Yedelian said he was very concerned that strictly confidential material had found its way to the media, also a breach of the Council’s Code of Conduct.
A report canvassing the council’s financial issues will come before the Council on 28th November. Mayor Yedelian said the report will be publicly available, and he would have more say at that time.
A Sydney mayor wants councils to be able to operate mobile speed cameras to make local roads safer.
Cr Ned Mannoun, the mayor of Liverpool, said if councils had the ability to operate the cameras, it would help to curb excessive speeding and promote safer driving habits.
He said the tragic loss of four lives in Liverpool in just four months due to speeding has deeply affected the community, and the trend cannot be allowed to continue.
Mayor Nannoun said Liverpool Council was ready to take on the responsibility, and called on the NSW Government to allow it and other councils to do so.
Former Bathurst Mayor Gary Bourke has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in a blackmail scheme to force a councillor to resign by threatening to expose her mental health issues.
But Mr Bourke has been spared jail and will be under community supervision instead, due to the low risk of re-offending and a lack of benefit served from incarceration.
Judge Penny Musgrave said Mr Bourke had undermined the institutions of government and failed to uphold the standards of his office, according a report from ABC News.
He will also have to perform 120 hours of community service and avoid contact with his co-accused, Darryl Leahey, who wrote the threatening letter and received a two-year community corrections order.
TAS:
A councillor at Burnie in Tasmania has called attention to the council’s high staff turnover rates in recent years.
Cr Ken Dorsey sent a ‘letter to the editor’ to the Advocate (9th November 2023), in which he thanked the 82 full-time equivalent workers who have left the organisation since 2021, and said “they are not expendable… they were good people.”
Data published at a recent council meeting showed annual turnover rates of 16, 21 and 18 per cent over the past three years, compared to a national local government turnover average of 8.3 per cent.
General Manager Simon Overland attributed the higher-than-average turnover partly to the appointment of a new executive team and the outlining of a new pathway.
QLD:
Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson has announced he will step away from local government at the next elections in March, after nearly 12 years.
He said he has made the decision to put his wife, children and granddaughter first.
For seven years, Mayor Jamieson has been President of peak body LGAQ.
The organisation’s CEO Alison Smith has thanked Mayor Jamieson for his stewardship of LGAQ and his commitment to its members and their communities.
His term as LGAQ President will conclude 90 days after the March elections.
Mayor Jamieson said he intends to see out his term until a new council is elected.
Queensland Deputy Premier and Local Government Minister Stephen Miles has this week appointed a new President and 10 casual members to the state’s Councillor Conduct Tribunal.
Russell Hood will be President for a four-year term, starting Monday, after former President June Anstee chose not to seek reappointment.
There’ll now be 14 casual members on the CCT, which hears and decides complaints of misconduct by councillors, and investigates suspected inappropriate conduct of a councillor referred to a local government.
National Briefs:
Planning is underway for a new Wildlife Hospital and Centre of Excellence in Redland.
The new facility on a prime coastal site will be a partnership between Redland City Council and RSPCA Queensland.
Mayor Karen Williams said it was the most exciting environmental and animal welfare project in some time, and it will include a hospital for koalas and other wildlife.
Wollongong City Council will seek support at this week’s LGNSW Conference for measures to improve cycling safety.
They include asking the state government to enable bikes to be carried on buses, and the ability for riders to use footpaths as occurs in some other states and in many parts of Europe.
You can read more on the proposal in the Sydney Morning Herald.
The CEO position at Huon Valley Council in Tasmania has been advertised.
The position was vacated last month by Jason Browne after two years in the role.
Applications are due with LG Services Group by 29th November.
International Spotlight:
UK:
Another week, another UK council in financial trouble.
Somerset Council has this week declared a financial emergency, with a £100M shortfall requiring urgent action.
As localgov.co.uk reports, the unitary authority only came into being in April this year.
Its estimated funding gap for next financial year is largely due to a dramatic increase in the cost of adult social care.
The council’s leader is writing to all Somerset city, town and parish councils, wanting them to take more responsibility for community assets and services.
In Cornwall, the council says local government finances are under strain like never before.
It has written to the government this week calling for more support after its latest financial reports show a doubling of its projected overspend for the year to be nearly £15M.
A council spokesperson said if nothing changes, councils are facing a funding gap of £4B over the next two years to keep services at current levels.
In Scotland, draft regulations are before the Parliament allowing local authorities to charge up to double the full rate of council tax on second homes.
If approved, councils will be able to apply a premium on homes that are not used as a main residence, bringing them into line with provisions for taxing long-term empty homes.
Public Finance Minister Tom Arthur said second homes can restrict the availability of housing and increase the costs of renting and buying.
He said the new legislation aims to prioritise housing for living in.
USA:
New Orleans City Council has suspended the spokesperson for the city’s Mayor, LaToya Cantrell, without pay for the remainder of her term.
As reported by Axios.com, it’s the first time the council has exercised a new power allowing them to hire and fire certain high-ranking officials.
The unanimous decision to suspend Gregory Joseph, rather than terminate, was said to be to avoid litigation and to prevent the mayor from simply hiring him back.
Mr Joseph was found by the council to be guilty of incompetence, neglect of duty and gross misconduct in relation to the distribution of tax-payer funded pamphlets during an attempt to recall the mayor.
In Chicago, council members want action to be taken to prevent the continued disruption of council members by people in the public gallery.
ABC7 News reported that several meetings recently have been forced to go into recess because proceedings became chaotic, with some elected members fearing for their safety.
One alderman said, “People are out of control” with participation giving way to intentional disruption designed to stifle the democratic process.
Members are calling on the mayor to get tougher and do more to demand decorum.
The council says it will be posting a list of acceptable and unacceptable behaviours, which it will be enforced from the 1st January.
And in Canada, the Alberta Government has flagged an intention to dismiss a council and its senior administration team.
The Calgary Herald has reported on the planned action by the province’s municipal affairs minister in relation to Chestermere City Council, after what has been described as months of pushback against a province-ordered investigation.
The minister, Ric McIver, has written to the council stating that he intends to dismiss all seven elected members and the city’s three chief administrative officers.
A response to the minister’s letter was required by last week, and as yet there is no indication of when the minister intends to issue any orders.