‘Abused, spat on’: CEO reveals threats after council rate rise

The boss of Northern Beaches Council has spoken to police, saying staffers have been subjected to widespread abuse after councillors voted to pursue a 39.6 per cent rate rise.

The CEO of Northern Beaches Council has claimed his staff have been “abused … and threatened” after the council voted in favour of a 39.6 per cent rate rise over the next three years.

In a fiery email on Friday afternoon, Scott Phillips revealed he had received an “alarming number of reports of threatening, abusive, intimidating and menacing behaviour directed towards councillors and staff” after agreeing to the rate hike earlier this week.

A council meeting at Dee Why on Tuesday night saw hundreds of angry residents demand councillors resign over the proposal, which Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal will increase the average residential rate bill by $678 a year and $1600 for small businesses.

In the email to councillors, Mr Phillips said he had heard reports of front line workers “sworn at, spat on and threatened with violence of the most abhorrent nature”.

“I am currently working through a number of work health and safety incidents, which if not appropriately managed could cause permanent injury to workers and expose Council to compensation claims,” Mr Phillips’ email states.

Northern Beaches Council CEO Scott Phillips revealed councillors and staffers had been abused and threatened in the wake of the rates hike decision. Pictures: News Corp/Supplied

He confirmed that several councillors had been “subjected to abuse, particularly online”, and that he’d briefed local police about his ongoing concerns.

“Councillors, can I just express my disappointment in the behaviour of a small number of people involved in the public debate on the merits of a special variation like this. In my long career, I have never witnessed anything like it,” he continued.

Tuesday’s extraordinary meeting saw eight of the 15 councillors, a narrow majority, vote in favour of a 39.6 per cent rate increase.

The recommendation from the council’s bureaucracy followed a consultation period between November and January. Just 17 per cent of the 6300 respondents voted in favour of that kind of rate rise over the next three years.

The council has warned of a $90 million black hole from the pandemic, natural disasters and increasing cost of projects.

However, The Daily Telegraph this week highlighted the council currently has a $160 million wage bill, including $25 million for 111 directors, executives and managers.

A chart showing modelling from Northern Beaches Council advising a rate increase of 39.6% would see residential ratepayers pay $673 extra per year. Picture: Supplied

Mr Phillips, who was appointed CEO in June 2023, is on a package of $544,000 a year, which is $100,000 more than Premier Chris Minns.

Residents repeatedly urged Mr Phillips to answer questions during Tuesday’s fiery meeting, but it was left to the councillors, who are elected officials, to answer questions regarding budgets, insurance and cost blowouts.

One of the eight people who voted for the decision, Councillor Nicholas Beaugeard told this masthead on Tuesday they had “done a really poor job on community consultation” and the council needed to examine its own costs.

Mr Phillips and NSW Police were approached for comment.