Government monitors Whittlesea Council amid growing tensions

AN outer suburban council is on notice over an increasingly toxic relationship between councillors and meetings that go on well into the night.

AN outer suburban council is under scrutiny by the state government over an increasingly dysfunctional culture.

The government is monitoring the performance of the City of Whittlesea amid ongoing tension between councillors, with some recent meetings running past 11pm.

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It is understood that the council has split into two factions, including a voting bloc of Labor Party-aligned councillors including Mayor Kris Pavlidis.

The rival faction includes Cr Mary Lalios, who is also president of the Municipal Association of Victoria.

Former Victoria Police chief commissioner Simon Overland is Whittlesea Council chief executive.

City of Whittlesea mayor Kris Pavlidis.

Cr Lalios is among a number of councillors who have been ejected from meetings in recent months as tensions have risen at the outer-northern municipality.

Former Victoria Police chief commissioner Simon Overland is Whittlesea Council chief executive.

It’s been reported that the council is considering new rules to improve conduct at meetings, and that Mr Overland may be given the power to reject petitions that are “not well-founded”.

However, Whittlesea’s Director Partnerships and Engagement Liana Thompson said all councillors were bound by a code of conduct under the Local Government Act that sets out the expected standard of behaviour.

“Open and transparent government often involves robust discussion and debate, however, the council continues to work through the agenda and complete all of the items of business,” she said.

“Council’s operations are continuing as normal.”

A spokesman for acting Local Government Minister Jaala Pulford said the government was aware of councillor tensions and that some meetings had finished very late.

Whittlesea councillor Mary Lalios.

“Councillors are elected to represent the best interests of ratepayers, regardless of their disagreements,” he said.

“We will continue to monitor the operation of City of Whittlesea, to ensure it is functioning and serving the ratepayers it represents.”

Last November, Cr Pavlidis was criticised for parking in a designated disabled spot while attending the launch at Mill Park Library of a new cafe for people with intellectual disabilities.

It’s understood that the mayor had been directed to park there by library staff.

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