Southport councillor Brooke Patterson faces another three complaints about her conduct

Councillor Brooke Patterson is furious after the City published allegations from an investigation into her conduct but stalled debate allowing her to address them.

Councillor Brooke Patterson is furious after the City published allegations from an investigation into her conduct but stalled debate allowing her to address them.

The Southport councillor was clearly frustrated as she left the Evandale Chamber on Friday afternoon having prepared a speech, to be given to colleagues in open session.

An independent consultant had found two of three allegations to be substantiated.

Councillors were expected to review the consultant’s report, hear Ms Patterson’s side, vote on the recommendations and if she was found guilty agree on appropriate penalties.

Instead in a shock move, Mayor Tom Tate was supported by councillors in having it adjourned to the next meeting on July 29.

Councillor Brooke Patterson. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Ms Patterson asked if there was any way for council to address the issue immediately “given this has now been made public and I cannot speak to it for another month”.

“It’s out there in the public stream, but my ability to speak to it, is limited. Very disappointed that this was going to occur, the City should not have released it,” she said.

City CEO Tim Baker apologised saying only became aware of the report being publicly available early on Friday morning. Mr Tate added that the council, was required under local government laws, to publish the report before the meeting.

The first allegations of a suspected councillor conduct breach were related to a town-hall meeting on the view tax hosted by Ms Patterson in August last year.

It was alleged Ms Patterson knowingly made statements which were “factually incorrect, misleading, and harmful to Council officers and the CEO”.

The particulars of the alleged conduct are that Councillor Patterson:

• Claimed she was “persuaded” by officers to vote for the rates increase and described this as an “incorrect decision”.

• Implied that the administration, and in particular the CEO, was responsible for the rates decision.

• Suggested that the officers failed to properly present rating information, thereby misleading councillors.

• Made statements that contributed to distress among Council officers, frustration among residents and created an unsafe and volatile environment at the meeting.

The second incident occurred on August 23 where Ms Patterson allegedly telephoned a Council officer and was said to be “accusatory, agitated, and dismissive” towards concerns raised about the town hall discussions held the previous evening.

Ms Patterson allegedly criticised the officer for leaving the meeting early and for the quality of advice provided and made disparaging remarks about the officer’s salary and professionalism.

In March, after an earlier separate report, Ms Patterson made a public apology.

It came after a council meeting the month prior in which she was told she had to make a public apology and undergo training after councillors found some official complaints by staffers against her were substantiated.

She has apologised for a breach of council conduct regarding two allegations proved involving council officers. “I commit and recommit to always treating council officers with courtesy and fairness, she said at the time.

She had previously robustly defended her position, claiming the real problem was that “new bureaucrats” had a “more delicate appetite”.

Revealed: Councillor facing fresh vote on conduct complaints

Southport councillor Brooke Patterson is facing a fresh vote from colleagues on alleged councillor conduct breaches, it can be revealed.

A report to full council on Friday on “suspected councillor conduct breaches” will be considered by all councillors in closed session after the budget is handed down.

Details of the investigation report have not been made public but this masthead understands they surround a town-hall meeting hosted by Ms Patterson for residents in Southport.

A report on a preliminary investigation by consultants will be presented to councillors.

They will determine whether “three suspected conduct breaches alleged against Councillor Brooke Patterson are substantiated or unsubstantiated”.

Ms Patterson is expected to address councillors at the meeting.

In March, after an earlier separate report, Ms Patterson made a brief public apology. It came after a council meeting the previous month in which Ms Patterson was told she had to make a public apology and undergo training after councillors found some official complaints by staffers against her were substantiated.

Ms Patterson was aggressive towards council staff and tried to influence a work experience selection process, an independent investigator had found.

Ms Patterson later told councillors: “I take this opportunity to provide a formal apology.”

Regarding two allegations proved involving council officers, Ms Patterson said she apologised for a breach of council conduct.

“I commit and recommit to always treating council officers with courtesy and fairness, thank you Mr Mayor,” she said, before resuming her seat in the Evandale Chamber.

Ms Patterson made no further comment on the matters.

Ms Patterson had previously robustly defended her position, claiming the real problem was that “new bureaucrats” had “a more delicate appetite”.

City chief executive Tim Baker, at the time, strongly defended his staffers and rejected Ms Patterson’s criticisms.

Councillors opted against dishing out the toughest penalty available to Ms Patterson, which would have been ­removing her as governance chairwoman.

Complaints from staffers about Councillor Brooke Patterson has in the past caused tensions between her and the office of CEO Tim Baker.

Speaking on behalf of all councillors when the earlier investigation was concluded, senior councillor Peter Young said there was concern for Ms Patterson’s welfare, but staffers needed to be protected.

He agreed with the penalties, but was concerned by what he said was Ms Patterson’s response on the matters.

“I think that contrition is necessary. I hope she finds that in her heart,” he said.

In February this year, details emerged about the staff complaints and difficult position it placed Mr Baker in, who was required to act on them. The Bulletin at the time revealed Ms Patterson faced 11 complaints. Four have been dealt with, and another three are pending at Friday’s meeting. It is not known at this point what is happening with the remaining complaints.

Ms Patterson at the time said the City restructure created a “new business culture” where she could no longer engage in a “straight, robust and intentional” way with senior staff.

In her statement, Ms Patterson said the first she heard of concerns from staffers about her behaviour, months after an alleged incident, was via a referral from the OIA.

She went on Facebook last July to accuse Mr Baker of “muzzling” her by placing restrictions on her contact with staffers, after this masthead revealed she faced complaints.

A council spokesman at the time said the suggestion Cr Patterson had been muzzled was “false”.

The restrictions were later lifted.

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Originally published as Southport councillor Brooke Patterson faces another three complaints about her conduct