Burnside Council votes to keep 110 confidential documents a secret
MORE than 110 confidential Burnside Council documents — some dating back to 2007 — will remain secret, after elected members rejected a push to make them public.
MORE than 110 confidential Burnside Council documents — some dating back to 2007 — will remain secret, after elected members rejected a push to make them public.
The council recently completed a review of 118 secret documents, relating to issues such as former chief executive Neil Jacobs’ resignation in 2009, legal advice, alleged leaking of documents and code of conduct complaints.
Calling for the documents to be made public, Cr Anne Monceaux said the council had to stop “hiding more things from the public”.
“It (confidentiality) serves no purpose other than to raise doubt in the minds of the community,” Cr Monceaux told last week’s council meeting.
“All we’re doing is hiding more things from the public.
“For goodness sake, we’ve moved on. I cannot see the need to keep these in any form of confidentiality.”
Her comments came as the council decided to add another two items to its list of confidential documents, including those relating to the ongoing management of The Regal Theatre.
In March, the council took over the running of the Kensington Rd theatre after it ended the lease with the private operator.
Meanwhile, the council will seek legal advice about the repercussions of making public information relating to serious issues raised by its independent auditor over its 2013/14 financial accounts.
Cr Peter Ford said that information needed “a ray of sunshine”.
“This one has very concerning elements,” Cr Ford said. “It’s not a good look to have this document hidden away.”
In May, 2015, the Eastern Courier Messenger reported the State Government had intervened and demanded Burnside address issues raised by auditor Cory McGowan.
The council’s financial statement and annual report were tabled in State Parliament — four months late — with Mr McGowan including a series of qualifications about its practices.
In his formal report, Mr McGowan accused the council of “not operating effectively” during 2013/14.
His concerns centred on accounting practices involving how it balanced its budget, valued “fixed assets” such as plant and equipment and its preparations of annual financial statements. In addition, the council’s internal controls were considered “inadequate”.
