Yarra council buries independent review from public for being ‘too sensitive’

The troubled Yarra council, currently in hot water for its controversial bin tax, says the findings from a consultants report are “too sensitive’’ for residents to see.

An independent review into embattled Yarra council’s operations has been buried amid concerns that it was considered “too sensitive” to be made public, the Herald Sun can reveal.

The report, conducted last year by consultants Atticusnow, has been shelved and council bosses have declared it won’t be released publicly.

The secrecy will further increase calls from residents’ groups for more transparency of the controversy-plagued council.

It can also be revealed that Yarra’s state government-appointed monitor last year examined Atticusnow’s analysis into its operational and financial management.

The monitor, Yehudi Blacher, who oversaw council operations during 2022, subsequently made an unprecedented recommendation that the council should report annually to the state auditor-general.

The revelations come after Yarra moved this week to introduce a bin tax on households, as part of its strategy to secure its long-term financial viability.

The bin tax proposal, first revealed last month by the Herald Sun, was passed on Tuesday but then went out for public consultation a day later, leading to more allegations of secret decision-making.

Atticusnow presented its Strategic Review Report to council bosses on June 7 last year, followed by an update 10 days later.

The Herald Sun has previously applied, through Freedom of Information laws, for release of the Atticusnow report papers but was refused because Yarra said they were considered “internal working documents” and “in confidence”.

Residents have previously raised concerns about consultant reports which cost ratepayers tens of thousands of dollars but were then hidden from the public.

Councillors and executives hold weekly confidential briefings, throwing a veil over some operational issues which some residents believe should be out in the open.

“The guise of confidentiality is significantly overused for items that the council merely would find unpopular for the community to have the full background on,’’ Yarra Residents Collective spokesman Adam Promnitz said last August.

Up to 200 residents turned up to Richmond Town Hall on Tuesday, in reaction to the plan to separate waste levy changes from household rates. Most were opposed to the move which many feared could be used as a way to circumvent the rate cap set the state government every year.

The waste levy proposal was passed 6-3 with the support of Greens councillors Edward Crossland, Anab Mohamud, plus independents Amanda Stone, Herschel Landes and Mayor Claudia Nguyen.

The move was opposed by Crs Stephen Jolly, Bridgid O’Brien and Michael Glynatsis.

Originally published as Yarra council buries independent review from public for being ‘too sensitive’