Food for thought

The Beagle Editor, Government News reports that Casey Council in Melbourne’s south-east will be sacked after a municipal monitor found “clear evidence” of failures of governance.

Government News says "In a report to be tabled in Parliament today monitor Laurinda Gardner found councilors had failed to manage conflicts of interest, prioritised protecting their reputations ahead of the interests of the council and failed to hold each other to account for their conduct. "She also found councilors contributed to damaging the reputation of the council and undermined public confidence in it. An interim administrator will be appointed." “Councils, as with all other public entities, must make their decisions in the interest of their community. Councillors are required to make decisions on behalf of their community with transparency and accountability. “While the removal of the City of Casey councillors is regrettable because the community will be without elected representatives, it is, nonetheless, a necessary step in ensuring public confidence and trust remain integral to local government.” The question to ask at a local level is what do we consider a "necessary step in ensuring a public confidence and trust remain integral to local government. remain integral to local government." The "public confidence and trust" of our own Eurobodalla councillors is at deserved rock bottom low. Should they be sacked? It appears they haven't done anything illegal because the HAVEN'T actually done anything. They have collectively achieved SFA in fact. If there was a rule that they can be sacked for being the most piss-poor excuse for a council Eurobodalla has ever had then sack them... but there is no such rule. With the failure of our Councillors to engage with the community and to listen to the concerns of the community in regards to the recent fires, the Council's lack of preparation and their dogged resistance to any public scrutiny it is now widely considered that our Eurobodalla councilors have contributed to damaging the reputation of the council. While we have anecdotes of councillors washing up, being a shoulder to lean on and even slicing, by hand, 150 loaves of bread (mercy) our councillors have failed to be the leaders the community expected them to be. In fact they were little more than a disappointment in terms of showing cohesive leadership. While our councillors might not have breached any rules to warrant being sacked they should take a good look at themselves, measure their worth over the past three years and collectively hand in their resignations apologising for being totally useless. Name and address supplied as there is a DA pending