Bundaberg council increases power of CEO

The Bundaberg council has added 24 new “powers” to Steve Johnson’s register of delegations. In a last-minute change, one other new power was excluded following public backlash.

Bundaberg Council passed a motion to delegate 24 powers to the chief executive Steve Johnson, with one power excluded following public backlash.

Bundaberg Regional Council passed a motion on Tuesday to delegate more authority to its chief executive Steve Johnson, broadening his ability to make decisions independently of the council.

The motion passed unanimously at the ordinary council meeting, giving Mr Johnson the authority to make decisions in relation to 23 decisions under four acts, including the Animal Care and Protection Act, Nature Conservation Act, Plumbing and Drainage Regulation and Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act.

In a last-minute development, the power to remove parcels of public land from the protections of the Land Act was excluded from the amendment following public backlash.

The Land Act enables state land to be dedicated as trust for community purposes, including parks, gardens and recreational facilities.

‘Real difference’: Key policing roles confirmed for Wide Bay regions

The Bundaberg Regional Ratepayers Association sent a letter to the council on May 29, the day before the council meeting, stating its view that the proposed Land Trust delegation was uncommon among Queensland local councils, and asked if council was considering resigning public parks from Trust, including Anzac Pool Park.

About 25 members of the public attended the May 30 Bundaberg council meeting following a social media campaign by the Ratepayers Association.

About 25 members of the public attended the meeting in support of the campaign against the change to public land decisions.

“At the moment it appears that (the motion) is being provided for the CEO to attain even more power to act without the knowledge or approval of the council and councillors or most importantly the community,” the letter reads.

However when councillor Steve Cooper read out the motion during the meeting, it excluded the Land Act power.

a statement made prior to the motion going to the vote, councillor Tracey McPhee said the review of the powers delegated to the chief executive was a “standard process”, and the delegation’s register was “easily available” on the council’s website.

Despite saying that suggestions that council would remove Anzac Pool Park from the protections of Trust were “absurd”, Mrs McPhee supported the removal of the Land Act power from the amendment.

“...I do support this recommendation to future proofing decisions being made about land held in trust, for the sitting council of the day to decide on,” Mrs McPhee said.

Speaking after the meeting, Bundaberg Regional Ratepayers Association president Helen Blackburn thanked members for “turning up today in force”.

Bundaberg Regional Ratepayers Association president Helen Blackburn said the exclusion of the Land Act power was a "win for the people".

“We see this as a win for the people,” Mrs Blackburn said.

“That was a great win for us in terms of the CEO not being able to act outside of the councillors and making decisions unilaterally ... in relation to public land that we have our kids play on all the time.”

Former nurse bashes and robs ex boyfriend during break-in

According to council documents, the amendments to the delegation register were recommended in February by the Local Government Association of Queensland, a not for profit association advising local governments in the state.

The LGAQ’s website states that its role includes the “enhancement of the image, credibility and support for local government within the community.”

The current register of delegations to the chief executive includes powers related to 124 Acts, laws and regulations.