Liverpool council passes urgent motion following Office of Local Government interim report launched

An embattled council has approved a new policy to address multiple “oversights” in a scathing Office of Local Government investigative report in a bid to improve their “legacy” before the election period.

Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun (left) and Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig.

An embattled council has approved a new policy to address multiple “oversights” in a scathing Office of Local Government (OLG) investigative report in a bid to improve their “legacy” before the election period.

Liverpool council deputy mayor Fiona MacNaught called for an urgency motion at last week’s ordinary council meeting and requested a policy that reports on several “oversight measures” including clarity on payout packages and chief executive officer performance every quarter.

Mayor Ned Mannoun seconded the motion and agreed the matter was urgent as “because it’s potentially our last council meeting”.

Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun. Picture: Monique Harmer

This comes after the council launched a legal challenge against the state government on Monday after Office of Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig threatened to launch an inquiry, defer the September elections and appoint an administrator following a damning interim report.

The interim report detailed allegations of broad dysfunction, including “senior staff in the development assessment department” putting pressure on workers to determine applications to “boost the number of determinations reported to the state government”.

Further allegations included a “repetitive pattern” from numerous senior council executives accused of hiring close associates or family members into top-paying roles within the business.

The new policy would require council to report on the reason and total amount of payouts to employees, a break down on the payout calculations and the produce for how the mayor and councillors are consulted in regards to the appointment and dismissal of senior staff.

Deputy mayor Fiona MacNaught and Liverpool mayor Ned Mannoun outside the Land and Environment Court.

The report should also clarify how positions and core salaries are to be market tested and a procedure of the appointment and performance of the CEO.

Council will further seek advice from the OLG on whether a “policy like this for the oversight is appropriate for the governing body to consider on a quarterly basis and if it is not, then not to proceed”.

During discussions in the chambers, Mr Mannoun and Ms MacNaught agreed the policy would be setting up “whoever will be here” post September elections will set up the council to have a better “legacy” and become a “better place”.

“We should always look to improve wherever we can,” Ms MacNaught said.

The motion was passed unanimously.

Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun (right) alongside acting chief executive Jason Brenton during the extraordinary council meeting on Monday.

This comes after the interim report was removed from the OLG website in an “act of good faith” following a successful legal challenge by council at the Land and Environment Court on Thursday.

An Office of Local Government spokeswoman said despite the “seriousness of the matters” raised by OLG investigations, “fairness dictates that the council should be given every opportunity to be heard” prior to the Minister’s decision on whether to suspend council and defer the election.

“While proceedings are on foot, the department has removed the interim report containing the investigators advice and recommendations to the government from its website without prejudice as an act of good faith,” she said.