Toowoomba Regional Council CEO’s contract extended but pay, details remain secret
The CEO of the Toowoomba Regional Council will be in the role for at least a few more years, following a confidential vote. But the details still remain a secret.
Council
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The Toowoomba region’s top public servant will remain in his role for another three years, but his exact pay packet will be kept hidden from ratepayers.
Council CEO Brian Pidgeon, who has been in the role since 2013, will be in the Garden City until at least 2025 following a confidential meeting on Wednesday afternoon.
Mr Pidgeon’s new key performance indicators have also not been revealed by the council, even after being requested by The Chronicle.
The council, like many local governments in southeast Queensland, do not disclose the exact salaries of CEOs and general managers.
However, the council annual report last year showed Mr Pidgeon’s remuneration had moved into the $400,000 to $500,000 pay bracket, having been in the previous bracket the prior financial year.
“The remuneration value of the employment contract between council and Brian Pidgeon is commensurate with the total package of Council Category 1, (or) annual recurrent expenditure of greater than $160 million,” the motion from Wednesday’s meeting read.
The unanimous decision this week comes just two months after four councillors voted to not extend his contract.
Councillors Rebecca Vonhoff, Bill Cahill, Melissa Taylor and Nancy Sommerfield all voted against Mr Pidgeon’s renewal, citing a desire to see changes in leadership at the top of the council and issues with the organisation’s current culture.
The March vote followed a lengthy confidential debate, which saw all council officers exit the chambers including Mr Pidgeon.
“Brian has been with us for 10 years — we’re now a $5bn asset-based business, and I believe we’re ready for fresh ideas,” Ms Sommerfield said at the time.
Mr Pidgeon has the backing of Mayor Paul Antonio and Deputy Mayor Geoff McDonald, with the latter saying he had a strong working relationship with the CEO.
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