Municipal monitor appointed to oversee Yarra Council

The Greens-run Yarra Council will get a performance manager after a series of blunders, but the party has slammed the state government’s move as “singling out”.

Some City of Yarra residents were enraged when a “recycling revolution” led to overflowing bins. Picture: Facebook

The Greens-run Yarra Council will have state government oversight after a series of policy bungles at the inner-city administration in the past 12 months.

A municipal monitor is to be appointed to performance manage the controversy-plagued council, Local Government Minister Shaun Leane said.

The monitor would “ensure the council has the guidance it needs to perform its role successfully and best serve the interests of the community,’’ Mr Leane said.

Council officers had alerted the government about the council’s governance and its ability to make decisions.

A monitor will oversee council operations, attend meetings and liaise with executives and councillors.

The Greens won five of the nine council positions in last November’s elections but the absence of Cr Anab Mohamud — who is facing charges of bashing a trans woman outside a South Yarra nightclub on April 11 — led to a voting deadlock.

In a separate legal action, the Supreme Court on Monday ruled that VCAT still had powers under the Local Government Act 2020 to have a councillor stood down while a criminal investigation was pending.

Greens councillor Sophie Wade was elected mayor. Picture: Facebook.

It followed a request in August by representatives for the Local Government Inspectorate and Cr Mohamud for legal ruling on the interpretation.

This month, the council took four attempts to elect a mayor after a three-week stalemate.

Greens councillor Sophie Wade was elected mayor with Cr Edward Crossland her deputy.

Cr Wade was pilloried earlier this year for complaining on social media about her poor council pay.

Cr Wade’s annual allowance will now go from $28,738 to $88,918 as mayor, plus expenses.

Comment was being sought from Cr Wade.

GREENS SLAM GOVERNMENT FOR ‘SINGLING OUT’ YARRA COUNCIL

Victorian Greens leader Samantha Ratnam has slammed the government’s decision to appoint a municipal monitor at the City of Yarra.

“I’m really disappointed in the Minister’s intervention at the City of Yarra and frankly, quite confused,” Ms Ratnam said.

Ms Ratnam said the reasons put forward by Local Government Minister Shaun Leane to take action were “very weak”.

“This type of singling out and use of really weak reasons to justify this level of intervention really troubles me deeply,” she said.

Greens leader Samantha Ratnam, pictured at the last state election, has criticised the government’s decision. Picture: Ian Currie

“If this is the threshold, the minister and the government is going to use … are we to expect a monitor at every local council right throughout Victoria?

Ms Ratnam defended the controversy-plagued Greens run council, despite intending to slap struggling local traders with hefty parklet fees.

“The City of Yarra have done an incredible job for their community in one of the most challenging times in recent memories … supporting the community, local businesses and people who’ve been hardest (hit) through the pandemic including many vulnerable populations within the municipality,” she said.

“Robust policy discussion and disagreement is part and parcel of every level of government.”

Socialist councillor Stephen Jolly said a monitor was not needed in Yarra.

“The socialist and independent councillors are quite capable of holding this Greens-dominated council for its errors,’’ Cr Jolly said.

Yarra, which covers Fitzroy, Collingwood, Richmond and parts of Carlton, has been plagued with controversies since last November’s council elections.

Katie Marron was one of the business owners furious about a Yarra Council plan. Picture: Mark Stewart

Former mayor Gabrielle de Vietri baffled residents over a decision to fly an “aromantics” flag over Town Hall.

And battling businesses were hit with exorbitant fees to keep outdoor dining spaces prompting a partial backdown. The original plan was to charge restaurants and cafes up to $5000 to convert a single car space into a dining area.

Late last year Yarra’s “recycling revolution” led to overflowing recycle bins and a message to citizens to share rubbish with their neighbours.

Earlier this year, the council had to back down after moving – without any consultation – to ramp up charges to sporting clubs for the use of council grounds.

The council was also derided for advertising for a “climate emergency” artist, to be paid $72,000 for six months’ work. The ad was withdrawn.

The council is seeking a chief executive after Vijaya Vaidyanath took the job of CEO of Homes Melbourne at the City of Melbourne.

Comment was being sought from the council.

WATCHDOG IN WIN OVER COUNCILLOR

VCAT will decide whether an inner-city Greens councillor accused of a violent nightclub assault should stand aside following a Supreme Court ruling in favour of the local government watchdog.

Anab Mohamud, 34, is fighting an application by the Chief Municipal Inspectorate to “stand down” until her criminal charges are finalised.

Ms Mohamud is facing charges including unlawful assault, public drunkenness and offensive behaviour in relation to an alleged fight with a trans woman outside Chasers Nightclub on April 11. The City of Yarra councillor will contest the charges in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court next year.

In August, lawyers for the Chief Municipal Inspectorate and Ms Mohamud appeared before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and jointly asked that the watchdog’s “stand down” case against the councillor be referred to the Supreme Court, so a high-ranking judge could resolve a legal technicality.

Lawyers for the watchdog argued the ability to make an application to VCAT to stand a councillor down was a “long standing power”.

On Monday, Supreme Court Justice Michelle Quigley ruled VCAT had jurisdiction to determine the application to stand Ms Mohamud down.