Liverpool Council: Investigation into CEO turnover deferred
An investigation into the turnover of CEOs at a western Sydney council has been delayed. Here’s the latest.
Liverpool
Don't miss out on the headlines from Liverpool. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Fears an external investigation into staff turnover at Liverpool council would “compromise” a NSW Government probe into the management of council was raised hours before CEO John Ajaka’s contract was terminated in a confidential session.
Labour councillor Betty Green tabled a motion at last week’s council meeting for an independent external party to investigate the reasons behind the turnover of council CEOs from 2008 to 2024.
Cr Green said she had concerns about the “lack of stability” in leadership roles at council and called for the inquiry to prove if there were common factors which caused the change in leadership.
“It’s important to have stability in leadership, especially in the CEO position to strengthen relationships with not only stakeholders, government agencies but also between councillors,” she said.
Deputy mayor Fiona Mcnaught questioned whether discussions about another investigation was “admissible or wise” while the Office of Local Government’s (OLG) probe into council was underway.
“The terms of reference (the OLG investigation) may align closely with some of these questions posed,” she said.
“I don’t want any of us to compromise an external investigation … I’m really uncomfortable with this.”
The recruitment process and alleged mismanagement of a $600m development project by Liverpool council will be scrutinised in the OLG investigation following concerns of a “fractured relationship” between councillors and staff.
Independent councillor Karress Rhodes successfully passed a foreshadowed motion for the external investigation to be deferred until the findings of the OLG’s inquiry were presented to council.
“I think that’s the only sensible thing for us to do,” she said.
“If an investigation was called onto any one of us councillors, we would definitely not be able to discuss it … and this should be treated in the exact same way.”
Mayor Ned Mannoun also called for the external investigation to instead probe into the turnover for all positions at council from 2000 to 2024.
“I know your point about leadership, but every one of our team members is a leader in their own right … to get a proper picture we should be looking at all staff,” he said.
This comes following a recent council meeting which saw Mr Ajaka’s contract terminated effective immediately in a closed session during a mayoral minute.
The vote for the mayoral minute was five to five, with mayor Ned Mannoun casting the deciding sixth vote.
Councillors Betty Green, Charishma Kaliyanda, Peter Harle, Ali Karnib and Karress Rhodes voted against the termination of Mr Ajaka.
Councillor Kaliyanda moved a motion of dissent on the basis that a decision should not be made until the OLG’s findings are available and the mayor shouldn’t be using a casting vote on the matter. The motion of dissent was lost.
Liverpool Council director of operations Jason Breton will continue as acting CEO for up to 12 months after Mr Ajaka who was previously granted leave with pay during a confidential five-hour council meeting in April.
Mr Ajaka is alleged to have told Liverpool mayor Ned Mannoun to “shut the f--k up” during a budget meeting on Tuesday April 16.
When approached for comment from Mr Ajaka, a Liverpool Council spokesman said: “council does not comment on the contents of private meetings”.
Birds-eye view: Drone footage shows new Sydney motorway from sky
Stunning aerial footage has offered a window into the future, showing Sydneysiders the major motorway set to connect them to their new airport.
Former teacher allegedly hit girl’s buttocks with bamboo stick
A former Sydney high school teacher, on trial accused of child sex offences, allegedly struck a teen girl’s buttocks with a bamboo stick and told her it was not his fault if she woke up naked.