Inner West Council administrator Richard Pearson says now is the time for modern and efficient local government

Richard Pearson says it’s an “exciting time” for the new Inner West Council.

Inner West Council administrator Richard Pearson and interim general manager Vanessa Chan at Cadigal Reserve along The Greenway, which connected the former Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville councils. Picture: Craig Wilson

• Merger of Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville councils approved
• Sacked mayors form their own council
• Councils vote to accept a three-way amalgamation

WHO is Richard Pearson?

Depending on whom you ask, he is either an unknown, a dictator or the man who played a key role in approving WestConnex.

The administrator of the new Inner West Council was brought in to oversee the merged area after all mayors and councillors of the former Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville councils were sacked.

“I’m certainly nobody’s dictator,” Mr Pearson told the Inner West Courier.

“I’m here to make sure the council gets off and running effectively.

“It’s an exciting time. There are 185,000 people that we’re representing now.”

Mr Pearson also hit back at those WestConnex claims.

He worked for the Department of Planning but left in September 2014.

Sacked mayors Lucille McKenna (Ashfield), Darcy Byrne (Leichhardt) and Sam Iskandar (Marrickville). Picture: Jane Dempster

“I had no role in the assessment or approval of WestConnex,” he said.

“As a council, I’ll obviously be looking at what issues there are for the community on projects like WestConnex and, in particular, construction-related impacts.

“I’ll be doing my best to make sure they’re addressed by the State Government.

“I actually think with having a council of 185,000 people, we’ve maybe got a stronger voice at the table on these issues now — and I won’t be afraid to use it.”

Mr Pearson, who lives in Summer Hill, said now was the time for modern and efficient local government, although there was still room for the old players.

“It’s very difficult for me as a single person to represent all the concerns of 185,000 people,” he said.

Mr Pearson has vowed to work with former mayors and councillors. Picture: Craig Wilson

“I’ll be relying on developing relationships with former mayors and councillors in order to perform the role effectively.

“I certainly want to work constructively with people who were on the previous councils, where they want to be constructive in wanting to establish the new council.”

The first council meeting will be held tonight at the former Marrickville Council chambers in Petersham but Mr Pearson is considering taking future meetings to town halls rather than just former council chambers.

“The proclamation adopted the Leichhardt Council meeting code of practice, so it will run the same way,” he said.

“The people will be able to speak to items on the agenda and I will run a meeting that enables people to have their say ... if they do that in a respectful way.

“I’ll be guided by officers’ recommendations, so it’s not like I’m going be sitting there absent of any advice.”

He said he would not have a base office as such.

“I think it’s very important we’re accessible to the staff in all of the three locations,” he said.

“Probably what I’m going to do is rotate from location to location on a weekly or fortnightly basis.

“There’s a feeling of uncertainty with some staff, so it’s important to be able to address that.”

Ms Chan oversees a workforce of 1200. Picture: Craig Wilson

Interim general manager Vanessa Chan said she was “excited about the opportunities of driving an innovation and excellence agenda”.

“My role is to continue to lead the day-to-day operations of the new council, which now has a fabulous and incredibly capable and committed staff of 1200,” she said.

“There’s an enormous amount of capacity to do fantastic work across the LGA.

“The other opportunity for us is really to ramp up the more contemporary ... forms of local government.”