Costs for watchdog Prue Digby, appointed to oversee Frankston Council, continue to rise

Prue Digby — appointed as a Monitor to oversee Frankston Council after it became increasingly dysfunctional — appears likely to remain in the role until later this year.

Prue Digby was appointed by the State Government to oversee Frankston Council after it became increasingly dysfunctional.

Squabbling Frankston councillors will almost certainly cost ratepayers more than $100,000.

The Leader can reveal that ratepayers have forked out $93,955 (excluding GST) for the employment of State Government appointed Monitor, Prue Digby.

Ms Digby was appointed in late 2017 to oversee the council following massive cost blowouts on multiple council projects and months of dysfunction in chambers.

The State Government last week said Ms Digby would remain in the role until the council appointed a new chief executive, which is expected later this year.

Mayor Michael O’Reilly said council meetings had been running “more efficiently and effectively” since Ms Digby was appointed.

Frankston state Labor MP Paul Edbrooke said it was essential that councillors stayed on a “positive path”.

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“The monitor can always be called on again,” he said.

City of Frankston Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Association vice president Darrel Taylor said the council’s inability to get major projects off the ground was deeply concerning.

“There’s frustration around their ability to make major decisions and handle major projects,” he said.

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