Threat to boycott meetings unless independent review of Harry Potter event is dropped
A Mornington Peninsula shire councillor has broken ranks to reveal what he claims stopped a quest for an independent review into a Harry Potter event.
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A vote to hold an independent review into a Harry Potter event on the Mornington Peninsula was abandoned after a stunning ultimatum to the local mayor.
The Herald Sun can reveal that the majority of Mornington Peninsula councillors threatened to boycott meetings unless Mayor Simon Brooks scrapped a request for an external probe into why the light and sound show was initially approved for a Mount Martha wildlife sanctuary.
Cr Anthony Marsh, who has led the charge for an independent review, said he was told by Mr Brooks via text message just minutes before a May 21 meeting that the matter would not be tabled.
“He told me he was approached by a councillor, on behalf of ‘that group of councillors’ who I understand said would not attend or stay at a meeting if the motion was tabled, meaning we would never get a quorum,” Mr Marsh said.
“In essence, one may assume they didn’t want to conduct an independent review but didn’t have the courage to admit it.”
The bombshell claim comes after a May 15 council meeting – which had been closed to the public – was abandoned after two councillors walked out ahead of a secret vote on a request for an independent review.
The exit of the councillors Sarah Race and Debra Mar meant the meeting did not have enough members present to continue.
Mr Brooks said he was unable to discuss Mr Marsh’s boycott claim because the bid for an independent review into how the Harry Potter event was approved was a “confidential process”.
A written statement from the shire provided late Wednesday, following yet another council meeting behind closed doors, said that the council had “reaffirmed a commitment to undertake a full review of the processes leading to, and the outcomes of, The Briars event”.
“The review will be supported by independent consultants and assessed by an independent probity adviser,” the statement said.
“The scope of the review will be determined by the Mayor and CEO. The Mayor will liaise with the councillor group on the scope, meaning councillors will have full input.”
Mr Marsh was unable to attend Wednesday’s meeting, which was a resumption of a council meeting adjourned the night before, after councillors failed to complete their business before the 10.30pm deadline.
He said he had “no confidence” that the review councillors had agreed to would meet community expectations.
“The community was promised an independent review, which implies it would be conducted at arm’s length from the bureaucracy,” he said.
Mr Marsh originally asked for an independent review using a scope determined by the mayor in consultation with councillors and conducted by a third party.
According to the shire’s statement the review would consider “all community feedback” that led the council to move the event to a nearby dog park.
The shire spokesperson said the review would determine “if there are any areas for improvement in the decision-making process and how successful the event has been for the Peninsula”.
The review would be presented to the council before councillors entered caretaker mode ahead of the October elections.
It would be released to the public, subject to confidentiality.