END THIS FARCE NOW
GLENORCHY community leaders have demanded their council be sacked as an explosive report lays bare a total breakdown between aldermen and senior staff.
The Mercury can reveal the damning findings of the confidential second draft of the Board of Inquiry report, which found the “council’s governance framework upon which council and the community depends, appears to be beyond repair”.
Glenorchy community
leaders say they are sick and tired of the ongoing saga and want Local Government Minister Peter Gutwein to dismiss the council before the suspended aldermen can return to their roles in August.
In the much anticipated report, seen by the Mercury, Board of Inquiry members Barry Easther and Lynn Mason find that: THROUGH ignorance of the principles and practice of good governance, poor knowledge and understanding of the Local Government Act a number of aldermen failed to monitor effectively council’s performance, its assets and the performance of some of its staff. THE animosity, defiance, distrust and lack of willingness to work together for the good of the council and community are evidence that the council did not address the dysfunctionality in its relationships. THIS was so much so that in the 18 months since the inquiry commenced, key GCC people failed to modify their behaviour to the extent that the council’s governance framework upon which council and the community depends appears to be beyond repair. MAYOR Kristie Johnston’s authority to act as the chairperson of the council was challenged consistently by a group of aldermen who never reconciled themselves with the 2014 election result. THE relationship between the mayor and a staff member became so dysfunctional that the usual and necessary functions of a council leader and employee could not be performed. THE number and consistency of potential breaches of the Code of Conduct indicated that the council failed in its duty to comply with both the Act and meeting regulations and did not deliver good governance. COUNCIL failed to determine and monitor the applications of policies, plans and programs for the efficient and effective management of council’s assets. COUNCIL failed to comply with GCC policy, such as its policy for Code for Tenders and Contracts and Purchasing Card Procedures. A NUMBER of significant council operations and projects, such as the long-running KGV redevelopment, were failed to be monitored by a staff member. THERE were numerous examples of staff providing inaccurate or confused advice to the council, with the readiness of some aldermen to accept it contributing significantly to the dysfunctionality of the council. THE failure to correct or retract this advice also contributed to the council’s woes. A STAFF member failed to provide aldermen with critical reports they should have had to fulfil their functions, the most notable being the withholding of the CT Management Report into council restructure. DELAYS to providing reports on performance against the Annual Plan and budget meant the council was unable to monitor its progress through the financial year.
The recommendations, revealed in February — that the aldermen be sacked, a commissioner be appointed for 12 months and an extensive review of management practices be undertaken — remains the same in the second draft report.
Despite the findings, the Board of Inquiry is all but certain to still be in progress when the six-month suspension of aldermen expires on August 8, following a further Supreme Court challenge to the investigation last week.
Mr Gutwein suspended the aldermen in February and in- stalled Sue Smith as commissioner. Under the Act, he cannot re-suspend them but can recommend their dismissal to Governor Kate Warner.
Asked yesterday, the State Government indicated it was still seeking advice.
Glenorchy Residents and Ratepayers Group committee chair Phil Butler said the situation had become “farcical” and while there were restraints Mr Gutwein was operating under as part of the Local Government Act, he could sack the council.
“The farcical situation of extensions of time being sought, threats and attempts at legal action by some alderman and now challenges to the authority of the Board of Inquiry itself by some council senior management has resulted in a mounting public anger which is nearing the boilingover point,” he said.
“With looming issues such as council amalgamations, TasWater take over, city funding deals and mounting council debt that has not been dealt with in the GCC budget it is time for Minister Gutwein to let democracy have its day ... sack the council and let residents decide their city’s future through the ballot box.”
The bill for the Board of Inquiry that will be borne by the council has reached more than $720,000 and is climbing.
Ratepayers group member Ron Desmond, who has been living in Glenorchy since 1967, said the community was concerned it would foot the bill.
“We are just worried about the costs,” he said.
“There has to be an end date, but who knows when it will be and who knows how much the final cost will be that we have to pay.”
Independent Federal MP for Denison Andrew Wilkie echoed calls for action.
“The chaos and dysfunction at Glenorchy City Council has dragged on far too long and the only way to solve the impasse is for all of the aldermen to be sacked and a new election held,” he said.