GATES CLEARED

DEPUTY mayor Donna Gates has been cleared of inappropriate conduct by the Office of the Independent Assessor, for suggesting allegations against council involving Black Swan Lake were “frivolous’’.

Cr Gates spoke for the first time about the accusations yesterday, saying her comments were “not malicious’’ and at no time did she seek to trivialise the matter.

DEPUTY Mayor Donna Gates has strongly denied that she had attempted to trivialise allegations against council and an investigation by the Office of the Independent Assessor.

Councillors at a full council meeting late yesterday debated a recommendation in an officer’s report that no action be taken against Cr Gates after she was accused of inappropriate conduct.

The Office of the Independent Assessor had received two separate complaints after Cr Gates at a media interview on January 15 was asked about the high number of investigations on the Black Swan Lake being dismissed.

The Deputy Mayor after taking advice from a council media officer said most of the complaints about the so-called “borrow pit” had been “frivolous”.

Speaking for the first time yesterday about the accusation, she told colleagues she had been Acting Mayor and attending a media conference about green wastes when asked her opinion of the flood of complaints with the OIA.

“I had not personally seen the complaints – it was suggested 37 had been lodged – so I sought guidance from the media advisor to the Mayor who stated most had been dismissed as frivolous,” Cr Gates said. “I simply repeated the suggested statement, in good faith.” Councillors unanimously supported the officer’s recommendation, that it was not inappropriate conduct.