Conference fails to support Central Coast Council’s motion to lobby the State Government to withdraw the Performance Improvement Order (PIO).
The State conference of Local Government NSW (LGNSW) voted against the motion by 60 per cent to 40 per cent after a brief debate.
Deputy Mayor Doug Eaton addressed the conference, saying the PIO effectively tied the hands of the councillors for 12 months and stopped council from doing things such as sacking the general manager or changing the priorities of the budget.
“If they do it to councillors coming out of administration who have done nothing wrong in terms of those who have been elected – they could do it to any council in NSW,” Cr Eaton said.
He said after the vote that it looked like Labor had decided to back their Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig.
Cr Eaton is a Liberal.
Councillor Belinda Neal (Labor) said all Central Coast councillors were disappointed that the Local Government Conference did not support the motion requesting the withdrawal of the PIO.
The motion asked that Local Government NSW call for the Minister of Local Government to withdraw Performance Improvement Orders imposed on the three councils coming out of administration as a matter of urgency and to restore local democracy to those councils.
On September 19, only days after the council elections were held, Local Government Minister Ron Hoeing formally served Central Coast Council with a PIO.
Under the PIO, Council is required to obtain concurrence of the Office of Local Government (OLG) to make major staffing decisions, such as the termination of the General Manager, the restructure of the organisation, or budget allocations.
Council also has to meet additional governance requirements, including obtaining OLG concurrence before amending its councillor and staff interaction policy, and developing a councillor request system that prevents disrespectful or excessive use.
It has to engage with Council’s Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee before any significant changes to Council’s priorities are adopted.
It has to ensure councillor briefings are open to the public unless there are grounds under the Act to exclude members of the public, such as to consider information that should not be made public.
Council is required to provide a quarterly compliance report to the OLG, including a quarterly business reporting statement, use of the councillor request system and any determinations of acts of disorder made at a council meeting.
Two other councils coming out of administration, Wingecarribee Shire Council and Balranald Shire Council, were also issued with similar PIOs.
