City Beat: Mystery exit of senior council workers sparks speculation about impact of cultural review

Speculation is rife about the absence of senior council staff – but bosses have refused to reveal more. Here’s what we do know.

Council bosses have declined to talk about the future of a crucial role at Evandale after the absence of a top employee at important meetings.

Councillors are also asking about the location of another senior staff member who has been missing from the regular round of committee meetings.

Special budget meeting behind closed doors at council. Picture: Richard Gosling.

The speculation about changes in the city’s top employee ranks occurs as new CEO Tim Baker conducts a cultural review of the workplace.

The Bulletin sent several questions to the council on the status of the employee, but a City spokesman said in a statement: “We don’t comment on staff matters.”

The spokesman later confirmed other “team” members had been “on hand and available at all special budget committee meetings” as back-up.

Gold Coast City Council’;s new CEO Tim Baker.

The Bulletin understands city councillors had received a brief email explaining the staff member’s whereabouts and were to be updated early this week, but that never happened.

“The councillors got a simple explanation. There was supposed to be a further briefing. It didn’t happen,” a source said.

The staff member absent from special budget meetings is regarded by some councillors as an “exceptional” operator and “having provided sound advice”.

The Gold Coast City Council chambers at Evandale. Picture: Glenn Hampson

A council source said another senior employee had been absent without any explanation given, only adding to rumours about more changes occurring within top level management.

Dale Dickson left the council in March last year after 18 years as CEO. His contract was not renewed, leading to predictions that many long-term senior staff could depart as management went through a period of unprecedented change.

“The employee has been absent for months. Someone else is acting in their role,” the source said.

Councillors are not making comment about the internal email, which only they and a few senior executives received.

Former CEO Dale Dickson.

Several sources said the vast majority of council staff were unaware of the internal management changes.

Mr Baker, a former top Tasmanian bureaucrat, attended his first council meeting in February and has visited staff and managers across the region.

Council insiders suggest his focus will be on “culture and efficiency” but that will not transfer to job losses for the city’s 4000 workforce.

Councillors have been told Mr Baker wants his directors to slice off 2 per cent from their operational budgets – as opposed to their capital budgets.

Council directors could determine the efficiencies, with options including reducing costs of consultancies, or cutting back on unnecessary travel.

This opens up the potential of between $16-20m in budget cost savings.

“I think the CEO believes he can drive hard on efficiency gains in the workforce,” a council source said.

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