Wingecarribee Shire’s councillors have been sacked after a report found “overwhelming” evidence of dysfunction at the NSW southern highlands council.
Local government minister Wendy Tuckerman last year appointed Ross Glover to investigate concerns about a ‘toxic culture” at Wingecarribee, with public hearings beginning in February.
Commissioner Glover’s report, tabled in parliament on Thursday, found inappropriate behaviour by councillors, an adversarial relationship between the governing body and the community and internal dysfunction that was undermining the council’s ability to perform its statutory role.
“The overwhelming weight of the evidence supports a finding that the 2016 governing body was affected by dysfunction,” he found.
“The report found repeated instances of inappropriate behaviour by some councillors during interactions with staff, the development of an adversarial relationship between the governing body and the community and dysfunction within the governing body that had a negative impact on the organisation.
The overwhelming weight of the evidence supports a finding that the 2016 governing body was affected by dysfunction
Commissioner Ross Glover
“The dysfunction within the government body affected its ability to perform its strategic planning function, which at least contributed to a number of identified shortfalls in the Council’s strategic planning framework.”
It makes nine recommendations, including that the eight councillors, who were suspended last year, be sacked.
Ms Tuckerman said she had accepted the recommendations that all civic offices at Wingecarribee should be declared vacant, and had informed council.
“The report raised serious concerns about dysfunction within Wingecarribee Shire Council and returning councillors to their civic offices was clearly not a sustainable or acceptable situation,” Mrs Tuckerman said on Thursday.
“Wingecarribee residents deserve confidence their council is operating in their best interests, and by taking this action, we will ensure certainty and stability for both residents and council staff.”
Commissioner Glover said the council had started to rebuild but was not there yet, and this would take “considerable time to complete”.
Interim Administrator Viv May will continue in the role until state wide local government elections in September 2024.
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Between local gov, state gov and federal gov, government seems lacking in sincere, genuine and morally sound leadership ongoing… What is happening in the world?
Only decision the Minister could have come to. As a well informed shire resident I feel compelled to note the following: (1) the DLG has a lot to answer for in not heeding calls by several councillors in the previous 2012-2016 term for WSC to be put into administration and (2) the faults of WSC and its dysfunction should be shared between Councillors and Management and I hope the report acknowledges that fact – the shambolic state of affairs that the community has had to put up with for so long was a joint effort. Here’s hoping for a better future.