Dubbo Council in crisis as mayor Ben Shields considers return

A NSW council is in crisis after its mayor planned to return to work after a medical episode and his deputy raised scathing allegations with journalists.

Dubbo Reginal Council has descended into crisis after its embattled mayor planned to return to work after suffering a medical episode as his deputy raised damning allegations with journalists.

Councillor Ben Shields spent more than a month in hospital after he suffered a medical episode at his home on March 31, hours after a majority of councillors signed a letter calling for him to resign and demanding a probe into complaints made about councillor conduct.

Dubbo mayor Ben Shields has been discharged from hospital. Picture: Facebook

Wrongdoing has previously been denied by Cr Shields and he declined to comment on the allegations Cr Lawrence divulged.

Deputy mayor Stephen Lawrence has been acting in the mayor’s role while Cr Shields recovers.

After Cr Shields was discharged from hospital last week and planned to return to work as mayor this week, Cr Lawrence requested an extraordinary council meeting be held on Saturday.

In an email sent to journalists on Monday, he also divulged details of damning allegations made against Cr Shields which were said to have led a majority of councillors to call on the mayor to step down.

There has been no evidence presented to suggest Cr Shields has engaged in any wrongdoing.

Cr Lawrence said at the extraordinary meeting he would table a policy he proposed, which would impose a series of conditions on the mayor while he conducted his official duties.

“It has the force of the law and has been cleared by council’s legal advisers,” Cr Lawrence said.

“I will be taking it to an extraordinary council meeting I have today (Monday) called for this Saturday at 12pm … though I note that is not necessary for the policy to have legal effect.

“The policy is designed to meet council’s duty of care responsibilities to staff, the community and Cr Shields himself.”

Dubbo Regional Council interim CEO Dean Frost and acting mayor Stephen Lawrence at an the last previously held extraordinary council meeting held in April. Picture: Ryan Young

Cr Shields declined to comment and was understood to be considering legal action.

Cr Lawrence said the proposed policy would apply until any outstanding code of conduct complaints about made about Cr Shields were finalised.

The policy would require council’s CEO to check all letters and emails signed off on by Cr Shields before they were sent out.

It would also only allow the mayor to access his office while in the company of senior staff and prevent him from making or taking telephone calls without a staff member being present.

Dubbo Regional Council has caused headaches for Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock. Picture: Ryan Young

Cr Lawrence said the policy would strip the mayor of access to his mobile phone.

The dramatic turn of events came as council’s May committee meetings had to be cancelled due to a lack of a quorum.

“All reports for the cancelled meetings will now be included into the agenda for the Monday May 24 ordinary council meeting,” a council spokeswoman said.

The Office of Local Government and Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock have previously raised concerns about issues at the council.

Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders has also called for council to appoint an independent investigator.

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