Parramatta Council: Push for more records on financial, legal expenses to be published
Demands have been made for a major Sydney council to show what’s on its books more regularly and reveal the bottom line of legal expenses, in an effort to boost transparency.
Calls have been made for Parramatta Council to show what’s on its books monthly instead of quarterly in an effort to boost transparency and accountability.
Independent councillor Kellie Darley, who won a case against the council in the NSW Supreme Court, has also called for it to reveal its legal expenses for the past three years.
In a move to “appropriately manage resources and to understand council’s current financial position and performance”, she has called for monthly reports to be reinstated.
“Monthly financial reporting was previously provided to council’s finance committee,’’ a question submitted for next week’s council meeting stated.
“However, this has not occurred during this term of council, even though there has been no change to finance staffing levels and there have been improvements to council’s information technology systems.
“Having to wait up to four months to find out the financial health of a half a billion organisation is ridiculous – by then it is simply too late for councillors to make decisions on necessary corrective strategies, if required.’’
The more regular information would comply with the Office of Local Government’s quarterly budget review statement guidelines released in August.
The council papers stated that while the quarterly statement was an important mechanism for councillors to track, adjust and publish reports about the council’s financial direction, councillors “should not wait” quarterly to monitor and compare its income and spending.
“Currently the first quarterly budget review statement isn’t provided until November and is backwards looking,’’ Cr Darley said.
“Monthly reporting would support councillors to properly monitor the current financial performance of the organisation.’’
Cr Darley also sought the monthly information so “the community has confidence that councillors and council staff are managing council’s budget appropriately” and prioritising infrastructure and services.
In a separate question to be asked to the council, Cr Darley has sought to attain what the council’s legal expenses over the past three years were following a decision to invest in in-house legal services to reduce reliance on external law firms and reduce costs.
“My questions are to see whether this has been achieved and ensure councillors have clear oversight of the true expenditure in this important part of council’s operations,’’ she said.
The question also seeks to find out which law firms the council has engaged since July 2022 and what is the total amount invoiced by each.
It follows Cr Darley’s major win against the council in the NSW Supreme Court in August when her censure for criticising its $1.1m deal with the Eels NRL club was quashed.
Parramatta Council has filed a notice of intention to appeal the decision.
The council has also come under the spotlight since July when ICAC officers raided the council’s administration offices in Wentworth St and seized senior staff’s mobile phones shortly before a council meeting.
In August, Cr Darley unsuccessfully sought more information on the ICAC raids.
The council’s acting chief executive George Bounassif is filling in for Gail Connolly who is reportedly on sick leave. Negotiations for her to leave the top job before her contract expires in April 2027 are reportedly under way.
