During her latest monthly interview on Sapphire FM Community Radio last week, Mayor Sharon Tapscott was asked about a report in the Merimbula News Weekly that had raised serious questions as to the status of council’s cash reserves.
While Cr Tapscott dismissed the report, saying that there was no substance to the ‘allegations’ that had been made, she acknowledged that council had not been able to explain the discrepancies highlighted in the report.
In an erratic response, Cr Tapscott went on to explain that while she didn’t understand council’s finances, it was ‘disconcerting’ that council was ‘being kicked-around like a political football’, even though there was no suggestion that funds had been misappropriated.
The association believes that Cr Tapscott’s reaction to the report was unjustified, in particular given that it contained no ‘allegations’, but simply highlighted discrepancies in information placed on the public record by council that council itself could not explain.
Cr Tapscott went on to claim that the queries were being addressed by council’s general manager, Leanne Barnes, notwithstanding that the elected council had voiced reservations over her financial capabilities at its last meeting.
Then, to further confuse the situation, Cr Tapscott claimed that the matter should be referred to council’s audit committee, seemingly unaware of the fact that Cr Mitchell Nadin, council’s representative on its Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee (ARIC), had already called for an Extraordinary General Meeting to address the latest reported discrepancies.
The most disappointing aspect of Cr Tapscott’s response was her insistence that council stood ready to acknowledge its mistakes, the vast majority of which she claimed were of a ‘procedural nature’.
As the association highlighted
only a week ago, council has an extensive record of deliberately attempting to mislead residents & ratepayers about its financial affairs.
This latest episode, coupled with Cr Tapscott’s clumsy response, has done nothing to reassure the community that anything has changed.
Just another moment in time.
John Richardson
Secretary/Treasurer
Bega Valley Shire Residents & Ratepayers Association
Tel: 0264945669
Email: secretary@begavalleyshireratepayers.asn.au
Website: http://www.begavalleyshireratepayers.asn.au