Local Government Minister set to suspend Glenorchy City Council for another six months

UPDATED: THE decision to sideline Glenorchy aldermen for another six months is disappointing but necessary to protect the community, says suspended Mayor Kristie Johnston.

UPDATED, 11.45am: THE decision to sideline Glenorchy aldermen for another six months is disappointing but necessary to protect the community, says suspended Mayor Kristie Johnston.

Making the announcement at a press conference in Hobart this morning, Local Govermment Minister Peter Gutwein said he recently wrote to Glenorchy City Council aldermen inviting them to provide reasons why he shouldn’t suspend them for another six months.

The first six-month period of suspension – handed down in February – was due to expire at midnight.

“Following careful consideration … I have today written to Glenorchy City Council aldermen and advised them that I am suspending them again for a further six months,” the Minister said in a statement this morning.

“I will also recommend to the Governor that Sue Smith is reappointed as Commissioner for the Council.”

Ald Johnston said she strongly supported the decision.

“Minister Gutwein outlined to aldermen his concerns and reasons for considering a further suspension, including serious failures in project management, significant non-compliance with the Act, deep concerns in the community as evidenced by their submissions at Council’s AGM, and attempts to amend the general manager’s contract with the potential to impose a significant financial burden on the community,” she said in a statement.

“These are all well-founded and I share the Minister’s concerns and have many more of my own.

“In the face of continued legal challenges to the independent Board of Inquiry and a stubborn refusal by a majority of aldermen, the general manager and the director of corporate governance to accept that they have done the wrong thing by our community, the re-suspension is necessary to protect the community.

“It is disappointing that this matter has dragged on to the extent that a re-suspension is necessary but it appears to be as a result of legal action taken by a few in self-interest with the blatant and wilful disregard for the community they are supposed to serve.

“I know that the community still strongly want a fresh election so that they can elect the council that they deserve.

“Once the Minister is provided with the Board of Inquiry report I hope that this can occur immediately.”

Local Government Minister Peter Gutwein making the announcement about the Glenorchy City Council’s fate earlier today. PICTURE CHRIS KIDD

UPDATED, 9.35am: LOCAL Government Minister Peter Gutwein has suspended the Glenorchy City Council for another six months.

Making the announcement at a press conference in Hobart this morning, Mr Gutwein said he recently wrote to Glenorchy aldermen inviting them to provide reasons why he shouldn’t suspend them for another six months.

“Following careful consideration of their replies, I have today written to Glenorchy City Council aldermen and advised them that I am suspending them again for a further six months,” the Minister said in a statement.

“I will also recommend to the Governor that Sue Smith is reappointed as Commissioner for the Council.

“The Government is yet to receive the Board of Inquiry report into the Glenorchy City Council and therefore we are unable to make a final decision on the future of the Glenorchy City Council at this stage.”

The Glenorchy City Council chambers. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE.

EARLIER TODAY: LOCAL Government Minister Peter Gutwein is expected to suspend the Glenorchy City Council for another six months today, as the cost of the Board of Inquiry investigation approaches $800,000.

The existing six-month suspension of the 10 Glenorchy aldermen, issued in February, expires at midnight tonight.

Last month, Mr Gutwein said that, with the Board of Inquiry process still unresolved because of multiple legal challenges, he would issue the aldermen with another six-month ban for the good of the Glenorchy community unless aldermen could convince him otherwise.

Glenorchy commissioner Sue Smith has indicated to Mr Gutwein that she would be prepared to stay on in the role should the aldermen again be suspended.

A Glenorchy City Council meeting before its suspension six months ago.

Mr Gutwein’s expected action comes as acting Glenorchy general manager Tony McMullen revealed that the fee for the board of inquiry that the council has to pay the State Government has reached $791,000 as of June 30.

Mr McMullen also said the board of inquiry had resulted in the council’s administration office costs being $1.093 million more than predicted for the past month and $823,000 over the budget for the year to date.

“At the end of the financial year, we asked for the bill for our financial records to plan ahead, and it was $791,000 as of June 30,” he said.

Mr McMullen also said the Board of Inquiry had stretched staff significantly.

“The staff are feeling the pinch and are a bit hard done-by,” he said. “They just want to get on with their jobs.”

Also this week, Supreme Court action by Glenorchy general manager Peter Brooks against the Board of Inquiry will be heard.

Action lodged by suspended alderman Jenny Branch-Allen against the inquiry will also be heard this week.

Meanwhile, the Glenorchy City Council has launched a new community engagement framework to give the Glenorchy community a say in decisions that affect the council in the future.