Hume City Council appeal Trevor Dance’s VCAT decision

A dispute which sees a northwest council and a councillor at odds is set for another twist after a decision was made. See the details here.

Lack of Christmas decorations in the City of Hume. Hume City Council offices in Broadmeadows.

A longstanding dispute between a northwest council and councillor over allegations of “serious misconduct” is set to take a new twist after an appeal was lodged over the recent VCAT decision.

Hume City Council and Cr Trevor Dance have been locked in a dispute over the former’s absence from two arbitration hearings concerning his complaints against Cr Jack Medcraft.

The meetings, which were meant to take place in June, 2021, were part of the council’s internal arbitration process. Cr Dance was found by the council’s councillor conduct panel to have breached that process and engaged in “serious misconduct” resulting in a three-month suspension.

Cr Dance’s appealed and Justice Michelle Quigley decided he did not engage in “serious misconduct” citing Dance’s multiple attempts to attend the meeting via online platforms and his mental health concerns.

The council appealed the decision ahead of the February 6 deadline and notified local government Minister that action was being taken.

“Council is disappointed with the VCAT decision of Justice Quigley in the case of Dance v Hume City Council and believes it has negative implications for the Councillor Conduct Framework in Victoria,” they said in a statement.

“Council is aware of the cost impacts of the decision to appeal, however there are wider governance matters of relevance to the local government sector that need to be clarified as a result of the VCAT decision.

“Given council is lodging an appeal, no further comments on this issue will be made.”

Trevor Dance

Cr Dance said he had not been officially notified of the appeal but believes it is a “clear waste” of ratepayers money.

“Assuming council goes ahead with the appeal … in my view it’s another clear waste of ratepayers money not to mention the costs of my defence that is covered by Hume Council insurance,” he said

“The insurance premiums I would suggest will only increase due to these large costs being incurred.

“I will let others make judgment on the use of more ratepayers funds as the community has already done so.

“The community see it as another waste of money when a decision has been made by the VCAT president … you can go no higher at VCAT.”

The VCAT decision was tabled at the council’s December 19 meeting in the confidential section which concerned Cr Dance.

“The problem with the meeting being confidential is that the public will never know which councillors supported this decision and which ones did not support it,” he said.

The Jacksons Creek Ward representative said he had received a lot of support.

“I thank the community for all of the support I have been given during this traumatic process,” he said

“Especially when the real issue comes down to how men’s health is not a concern it seems in many circles still.”