Ex-aldermen in alleged conflict case

FORMER Glenorchy City Council aldermen Jenny Branch-Allen and David Pearce will face the Hobart Magistrates Court next month over alleged breaches of conflict of interest rules.

Ms Branch-Allen, 56, and Mr Pearce, 59, are each facing three charges of “declaration of interest by councillor” under Tasmania’s Local Government Act.

The charges are believed to be linked to a council meeting held on June 6, 2016, where aldermen voted on whether to use ratepayers’ money to cover legal expenses in the Supreme Court case launched by Ms Branch-Allen against the board of inquiry — made up of former mayors Barry Easther and Lynn Mason.

Ms Branch-Allen claimed the inquiry was biased and lacked procedural fairness.

The motion to confirm council wouldn’t use ratepayers’ money for legal costs came after it was indicated that Directors and Officers liability insurance would not cover the bill incurred by aldermen.

Ms Branch-Allen, Mr Pearce, Christine Lucas, Stuart Slade and Steven King voted against the motion while directly participating in the case, according to the Board of Inquiry report, tabled in State Parliament in November last year.

“The motion was lost on a vote of three to seven, with five of those voting against the motion having direct participation in the matter of Branch-Allen v Easther and Others,” the report read.

“Those aldermen who had incurred legal expenses could be perceived to have had a direct interest in ensuring that the possibility of payment of their legal fees by council was not removed.

“Accordingly, they should have declared that conflict of interest and removed themselves from the council chamber during debate and voting on the motion.”

The report also revealed Mayor Kristie Johnston asked the general manager to call police during the meeting after Ms Branch-Allen refused to leave the chamber after repeated interjections and a warning.

Ms Johnston adjourned the meeting for 10 minutes but Ms Branch-Allen and other aldermen left, so the meeting was adjourned to a later date.

Ms Branch-Allen and Mr Pearce are expected to enter pleas on October 11.