The report from IBAC’s Operation Sandon has finally been released, and makes sweeping recommendations that would shake-up local government planning laws.
Details of the 34 recommendations have been reported by various media outlets this morning. The recommendations include:
A taskforce to oversee the implementation of the recommendations;
Development of an independent planning panels model to make decisions on statutory planning matters statewide;
Measures to address corruption risks related to rezoning windfall gains;
Measures to bring more transparency to rezoning processes.
A number of recommendations relate to directly to Council governance, such as:
Model Councillor Code of Conduct
Mid term governance, leadership and integrity training
Model Governance Rules
Expectations on councillor/staff interactions
Model Transparency Policy, with implications for briefing sessions
Prohibiting en bloc voting
Minutes to show all speakers and how each councillor voted, regardless of division
Reforms for disclosing and dealing with conflicts of interest matters
Schedule of reportable donations for planning matters
Model conflict of interest training
New penalty for councillors with a conflict of interest who attempt to influence other councillors
Review of sanctions for misconduct, including ineligibility to be mayor
Support for CEOs to make mandatory serious misconduct notifications
Greater consistency and independent oversight of council CEO recruitment and employment
IBAC reportedly found that “as a group” Casey councillors “exhibited and tolerated behaviour that did not meet the standards required of them”.
It found that about $1.2m was paid to two former Casey mayors/councillors – Sam Aziz and Geoff Ablett – by property developer John Woodman to gain support for Council planning decisions.
Four former city of Casey councillors are among those about whom the report makes adverse findings.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews released a statement acknowledging the report, saying the government would consider and respond to the recommendations in due course.
Mr Andrews said the government’s clear position is that the role of local councils in significant planning decisions should be
The Victorian Local Governance Association welcomed the release of the report. President Cr Denise Massoud said the VLGA would carefully consider the recommendations and make a response after consulting with its member councils.
Peak body LGPro said Victoria’s latest corruption investigation highlights the urgent need for Victorian Government-led reform for the Local Government sector.
It said it welcomes many of the reform recommendations, including sanctions for misconduct that are adequate and applied appropriately, explicit provisions in the councillor code of conduct that allow council officers and members of the public to make complaints to the Chief Municipal Inspector, and the publication of data on arbitration and complaint processes.
The Municipal Association of Victoria said it was a relief for the sector to finally have the report released.
It said in a statement that the behaviour described in the report is unacceptable and reflects poorly on all involved.
President Cr David Clark said, “the issues interrogated by Operation Sandon should be of interest to us all given they affect multiple parts of public administration in the state.”
He said the MAV would work through the recommendations with councils and the state government.
The Victorian Greens have reacted to the report with a call for the state’s donation cap laws to be applied to local government, among other responses.
IBAC has produced a video overview with Acting Commissioner Stephen Farrow which can be viewed here.