Inquiry recommendations focus on councillor training
Recommendations from the Public Inquiry into Central Coast Council have focussed on councillor training and on ensuring money is spent on the purpose for which it is raised.
While the report is critical of staff performance, as well as councillor performance, it contains no recommendations addressing staff performance or council processes.
"Those staff members who were most responsible have departed Central Coast Council," said Commissioner Ms Roslyn McCulloch in her report, released last Thursday, March 17. "Council now has a highly competent and experienced general manager and chief financial officer and appears to be on track to recover from its financial woes, albeit at great cost to the community of the Central Coast."
Ms McCulloch was appointed on April 26 last year to hold a Public Inquiry under section 438U of the Local Government Act 1993 into Central Coast Council.
She recommended that information sessions be conducted for prospective candidates prior to the next Council elections, "to provide information about the obligations and burdens on future councillors".
She recommended that "mandatory training be provided to each councillor, including training relating to financial management specific to local government" within three months of the election.
She also recommended that consideration be given to introducing a mandatory requirement for all councillors to complete an accredited course for company directors, or a course of equivalent rigour developed specifically for local government councillors.
The course would have to be completed within the first year of their election, with refresher courses for councillors who have previously completed such courses.
In relation to "restricted funds", she recommended either a change to the Local Government Act or to enable the council to administer its water supply and sewerage services "in the same way as other NSW councils".
The Local Government Act 1993 could be amended "to eliminate any asserted ambiguity ... to make it clear that money received as a result of levying rate or charges under any other Act may not be used otherwise than for the purpose for which the rate or charge was levied".
"Alternatively, consideration be given to removing Central Coast Council as a water authority under the Water Management Act 2000."
Local Government Minister Ms Wendy Tuckerman accepted Ms McCulloch's recommendations that all civic offices at Central Coast Council be declared vacant, effective immediately, and that an administrator be appointed until the election for Central Coast Council scheduled for 2022.
Ms McCulloch recommended the administrator ensure the completion of the Business Recovery Plan as adopted and amended by Central Coast Council since October 2020.
SOURCE:
Report, 17 Mar 2022
Roslyn McCulloch, Public Inquiry Central Coast Council