Burnside council cancels special meeting to review chief executive Paul Deb’s performance and future

UPDATE: Burnside Council has cancelled its extraordinary meeting — called to review the future of its chief executive in a bid to end “dysfunction” — after seven councillors refused to turn up.

Craig Cook and Dan Jervis-Bardy

less than 2 min read

August 21, 2017 - 10:03AM

Paul Deb, the CEO at Burnside Council.

BURNSIDE Council has cancelled its extraordinary meeting — called to review the future of its chief executive in a bid to end “dysfunction” — after seven councillors refused to turn up.

The council — which faced a $2 million taxpayer-funded government investigation into its dysfunction in 2009 — has been gridlocked for months with claims and counterclaims between council staff and elected members of bullying, intimidation and defamation.

The Advertiser understands matters have been referred to the Minister for Local Government, Geoff Brock, State Parliament, SafeWork SA, the SA Ombudsman, SAPOL and other investigative bodies.

Three of 12 councillors — Cr Lance Bagster, Cr Peter Ford and Cr Felicity Lord, forced a special meeting to discuss the most recent performance appraisal of chief executive, Paul Deb.

Mr Deb is understood to have taken four weeks personal leave and will not attend the meeting.

But on Monday morning, the meeting was cancelled when seven councillors did not show up.

It comes after Mr Deb was found to have breached his employment contract during dealings with Burnside councillor Lance Bagster on two occasions.

But the state Ombudsman chose not to investigate Mr Deb.

In May, Mr Deb prevented his staff from attending fortnightly meetings out of fears for their safety from the alleged antics of Mr Bagster. Mr Bagster told The Advertiser he had been the victim of a smear campaign.

Later that month, the council was forced to move a special meeting called to discuss internal conflict when the public gallery refused to move.

MORE TO COME