‘We want our own councillor’: Ratepayer anger as watchdog called

AS RATEPAYERS complain about lack of representation after their councillor was suspended over stealing charges, it has emerged there won’t be a by-election if the seat is vacated.

Division 6’s Stacey McIntosh has vowed to fight stealing charges.

NO BY—ELECTION will be held for Logan City Council’s Division 6 if the seat becomes vacant.

Instead, council is likely to call for expressions of interest for the seat, which is held by Stacey McIntosh.

Ms McIntosh was suspended in May after being charged with stealing $180,000 from Coopers Plains firm Fortuna Engineering Works in December 2016.

She has vowed to fight the charges.

If found guilty, she will be forced to vacate the Division 6 seat.

Residents of the seat, which covers Bethania, Edens Landing, Holmview, Loganholme, Meadowbrook, Tanah Merah and Waterford, claim they are not receiving adequate representation since the suspension, and last month called on Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe to act.

Under the Local Government Act 2009, if the office of a councillor becomes vacant 30 months after the last election, the office “must be filled by the local government appointing, by resolution, a person qualified to be a councillor”.

On November 19, it will be 32 months since the last election.

Bethania resident and president of the residents action group Diana Howes wants the Local Government Minister to act.

Bethania Residents Action Group president Diana Howes said Mr Hinchliffe had fobbed off residents.

His chief of staff, Louise Foley, wrote to Ms Howes last month and told her to direct complaints to council and also referred her to the Queensland Ombudsman.

Ombudsman inquiry officer Jennifer Jackson wrote to Ms Howes on October 5 and told her to give council until October 29 to respond with any plans to change the seat’s representation.

Acting mayor and Division 8 councillor Cherie Dalley says she will respond to any Division 6 inquiries.

Division 8 councillor Cherie Dalley added the roles of Division 6 councillor and acting mayor to her duties after Ms McIntosh and Mayor Luke Smith were suspended.

“Residents can be assured that if they come to me with concerns, I will do everything I can to have their issues addressed,” Cr Dalley said.

“My guess is that over the next few months, there will likely be a significant increase in the number of people looking to throw their hat in the ring should an opportunity arise to run for Division 6 councillor.”

But Ms Howes said residents wanted action before Christmas.

“We have been battling for months in Bethania to get council to give us the representation we are entitled under the Local Government Act,” Ms Howes said.

“Council’s CEO has failed to respond by the October 29 deadline set by the Ombudsman and that office has now referred the matter to an Assessment Officer who will advise within 10 working days as to whether or not an investigation will be conducted.

“I was advised by the Mayor’s office that if the seat becomes vacant, council will call for Expressions of Interest for someone to stand in the role until the next Local Government election in March 2020.

“I have been told not to expect an announcement on this until February or March, which is unacceptable.”

More than 120 ratepayers and residents from the area formed the Bethania Residents Action Group in August after Ms McIntosh was forced to step down.

Division 10 councillor Darren Power says the legislation should be adjusted to allow for a by-election to after the extraordinary events of this year.

Division 10 councillor Darren Power called for the legislation to be changed to allow for a by-election in the last year of a council’s term.

“This has been an extraordinary year for Logan City Council and that should be compensated for in the legislation,” Cr Power said.

“It is not the right move to allow this factionalised council to select its own representative — that’s not democratic.”