A new independent panel is being established to investigate any allegations of misconduct made against Wagga City Council.
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Tenders from independent “service providers” are being sought by council to serve on a conduct review panel.
This panel is being established by council – in line with government legislation – to review complaints and investigate any allegations of breaches of the Code of Conduct by the mayor, councillors or the general manager.
Councillors decided in January to press ahead with establishing the panel, and the tender process is now under way. Submissions close on April 9.
Panels are being created by other NSW councils.
General manager Peter Thompson has said the decision to establish the review panel by does not relate to any issues regarding any councillor.
“Under the Code of Conduct requirements, council must have conduct reviewers who are available to review conduct complaints,” he said.
“The report (to council in January) discussed options for appointing people as conduct reviewers and the outcome was that an expression of interest process will be used to seek interested service providers for appointment to council’s panel of conduct reviewers.”
Wagga Ratepayers’ Community Forum’s Lynne Bodell has welcomed the moves to establish an impartial panel to hear any complaints.
“I think it’s a wonderful idea,” she said.
“In the past, there have been instances where it has been a lot more difficult without going to the media.”
Wagga Mayor Greg Conkey said the establishment of an independent review panel was a positive move.
“Anything that gives the community added confidence in the councillors and in the operations of the council is to be welcomed,” he said.
There are specifications, under the Code of Conduct, about the type of person who would be considered appropriate for the committee.
A “suitably qualified” person could, for example, have a background in law, accounting, finance, public sector management, governance or investigations, or expertise in a particular area of council operations that was the particular allegation.
A spokesperson for the Office of Local Government said the panel would be offered flexibility in how it dealt with complaints to resolve less serious complaints informally.