Municipal Monitor appointed to Strathbogie Shire Council
Municipal Monitor Peter Stephenson has been appointed at Strathbogie Shire Council.
Mr Stephenson’s appointment is the second monitor to work with Council during this term.
The first, Janet Dore, finished her appointment in July 2022 and her report was provided to Council in January 2023, and noted by Council at its February meeting.
“Ms Dore provided Council with invaluable learnings and support,” Mayor, Cr Laura Binks, said.
“She provided an extra layer of education for Council in our pursuit of good governance.”
Ms Dore finished her appointment in July 2022 and her report can be found on Council’s website.
However, Cr Binks said, in appointing Mr Stephenson, the Minster was responding to serious concerns about governance and conduct raised with her by Councillors, Council staff and independent members of Council’s Audit and Risk Committee.
“She is concerned there are serious risks impacting the functioning of the Council and the health and wellbeing of its members,” she said.
“The Terms of Reference (ToR) to Mr Stephenson’s appointment make it clear he has been appointed to assess the Council’s ability to function properly.
“I look forward to working with Mr Stephenson and Council to ensure we can continue delivering great things for our community.”
The ToR in full can be found below:
Without limiting the Municipal Monitors’ functions and powers under sections 180 and 181,
respectively, of the Act, the Municipal Monitor is:
1. To monitor the Strathbogie Shire Council’s (Council) governance functioning, with specific regard to key areas of concern identified in correspondence from the Mayor and other members of the Council dated February and March 2023, including the following matters:
(a) The actions taken in response to, and the Council’s ability to give effect to, the advice from the former municipal monitor appointed to the Council in 2022;
(b) Councillor understanding and performance of their statutory roles and responsibilities;
(c) The relationships between councillors and between councillors and Council staff, including councillor behaviour with respect to the Councillor Code of Conduct and processes for resolving disputes between councillors;
(d) Council’s meeting procedures and decision-making processes, including Council briefings and meetings;
(e) the Council’s processes and practices in relation to health and safety including any matters that may be creating a serious risk to the health and safety of Councillors, Council staff or other persons; and
(f) any other matters that may be affecting the Council’s ability to effectively perform its statutory role, including behaviour that may be preventing the Council from performing its functions.
2. To identify the underlying causes of any issues affecting the ability of the Council and / or individual councillors to properly perform their statutory roles, with specific regard to the matters raised in clause 1.
3. To report to the Minister for Local Government, with respect to the matters in clause 1 and 2, on:
(a) any steps or actions taken by the Council to improve its governance and the effectiveness of those steps or actions;
(b) any recommendations for the Council to ensure the proper performance of its statutory role, including in relation to the conduct of councillors and responding to the advice of the former municipal monitor appointed to the Council; and
(c) any recommendations for the Minister, including in relation to the exercise of any Ministerial power under the Act.