After a $20,000 retreat, north shore councillors to vote on spending audit

Weeks after Ku-ring-gai councillors went on a $20,000 ratepayer-funded trip to the Blue Mountains to debate a possible rate rise, the council will vote on bringing in external auditors to review spending.

The motion, which is set to be filed at next week’s meeting by councillors Matthew Devlin and Jeff Pettett, references “the anger and dismay” of ratepayers in nearby councils under threat of enormous rate rises.

Ku-ring-gai Council Chambers, where councillors will next week vote on an external financial audit.Credit: James Brickwood

Devlin, who was elected for the first time at last year’s poll, said local governments across NSW were struggling financially, and ratepayers wanted clarity on what their councils could and couldn’t afford.

“The reality is that the state government has a large budget challenge, and it is doing everything it can legitimately do to shift costs off their books,” he said. My intent is to ensure that the council has its belt well and truly tightened before it considers asking for one extra dollar or making any cuts.”

While he wouldn’t speculate on what efficiencies could be found through an audit or financial review, Devlin said that there were likely to be “plenty of opportunities for council to make changes if the community wanted”.

“I would like to think that the council is running really efficiently; however, the sceptic in me and the broader community would always think there is an opportunity for efficiencies to be found. Quite what they are, I don’t know. I don’t have any expectation – my approach is to have an open mind.”

The council previously commissioned an external financial review in 2023 that found Ku-ring-gai was performing favourably compared with similar councils.

However, Devlin said this review was no longer reflective of the council’s position as it took place before the state government’s Transport-Oriented Development program was implemented and had been overshadowed by increased cost-shifting and a changed economy.

Mayor Christine Kay said that she would not be voting for the motion in its current form.

The move comes after a series of unpopular special rate variations were lodged with IPART by Northern Beaches and North Sydney councils. Both variations triggered community protests for the 40 per cent and 87 per cent rise requests, respectively.

“We want to be on the front foot; we want the community to see that we are proactive, that every decision is justified,” Devlin said.

Devlin, Pettett and Kay were three of nine councillors who attended the Ku-ring-gai council retreat at the Hydro Majestic Hotel in the Blue Mountains to discuss council matters, including a special rate variation. Some councillors privately expressed concern, and one, Cedric Spencer, withdrew after confirming his attendance.

Before the last election, Pettett told Ku-ring-gai Living that the council needed to curb its use of “expensive external consultants” and that an “immediate council expenditure review to stop any unnecessary wasteful spending” was necessary.

Pettett was contacted for comment.

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