Director resigns, leaving only acting staff in Whittlesea Council’s leadership team
Still reeling from the shock sacking of chief executive Simon Overland, Whittlesea Council is now dealing with the resignation of a director which has left the leadership team in an unusual state.
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Whittlesea Council is again in the spotlight following the resignation of one of its directors Russell Hopkins this week.
The community services director’s imminent departure means the council’s executive leadership team will be made up entirely of staff in an acting capacity.
The council’s chief executive officer position was also filled by acting boss Kelvin Spiller after Simon Overland’s contract was controversially terminated last month.
Ratepayers Victoria president Dean Hurlston said the strange situation had never happened before at a Melbourne council.
“What is it that ratepayers are paying for, a revolving door?” he said.
“It is vital that ratepayers have continuity of services and the efficient and timely delivery of that relies on good leadership.
“To have all directorates being undertaken concurrently by acting staff shows poor succession planning and poor leadership in dealing with this.”
But Mr Spiller sought to reassure residents saying the council would move to fill the important roles permanently in the “immediate future”.
Mr Spiller also said the council’s director of city transport and presentation Helen Sui, who was currently acting in the position, was officially on a secondment from her previous role as corporate services director.
“While it might sound unusual to have three directors in an acting capacity it’s not a challenge or a problem for us,” he said.
“In a large organisation like ours at the middle management level there are lots of experienced managers so its just a matter of we rotate them around.
“At this stage until I can just get an overview of what needs to be done and the timing it needs to be done we will be looking to resolve the permanency of the positions in the really near future.”
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Municipal monitor Yehudi Blacher, a former deputy secretary in the Department of Premier and Cabinet and a former administrator for the City of Greater Geelong, was appointed to oversee issues at Whittlesea Council on December 13.
The embattled council will be watched over the next six months, with an interim report about councillor behaviour due in March.
The council has been under investigation by the Local Government Inspectorate over claims of bullying and workplace safety.
The Municipal Association of Victoria has been approached for comment.