The association has been a long-time critic of council, in particular over its questionable record of managing the shire’s financial activities.
Examples of council’s failings include:
• knowingly presenting a false set of financial statements for adoption by council;
• failing to ensure that council met its statutory obligations;
• deliberately attempting to deceive residents & ratepayers with a dishonest justification for a proposed Special Rate Variation (SRV) to underwrite the shire’s six pools strategy;
• failing to protect the shire’s financial position in 2018-2019 by reporting a full year net operating deficit of $10M & a net operating deficit in its General Fund of $14.1M;
• failing to provide an adequate explanation as to the circumstances leading to council’s 2018-2019 performance.
• failing to present to the Public a proper & accurate Annual Report in the 2018 & 2019 years; &
• failing to properly acquit & report to the Public, IPART & State on expenditure levied under Special Rates Variations for Specific Purposes since 2017.
Then, at council’s last meeting on June 24th, new concerns relating to the management of council’s substantial cash reserves were raised by Crs Nadin & Bain, while the general manager’s financial competence was called into question.
From an excellent report in today’s
Merimbula News Weekly (MNW) we now know that
Crs Nadin & Bain have formally moved for council to schedule an
Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) next week to consider obtaining as a matter of urgency:
“ … an independent assessment of council's present financial position (as at 30/6/20) prior to final annual audit so as to ground-truth a sound future financial commitment in its Long Term Financial Plan, Resourcing Strategy, Delivery and Operational plan for 20/21 financial year (now commenced).”
They have asked that the assessment includes expenditure of all restricted and unrestricted funds and "involve where necessary, a forensic audit for financial years 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020".
The association wishes to publicly endorse the action of Crs Nadin & Bain in proposing that an independent assessment of council’s financial position be conducted.
The association also wishes to congratulate the MNW for shining a light on these important issues of concern for all ratepayers, in particular given the reluctances of some sections of the local media to publicly scrutinise the behaviour of council, while shielding it from criticism.
Should council fail to act on the recommendation of Crs Nadin & Bain, the association will once again call on the Minister for Local Government to initiate an independent investigation into the deficiencies of council’s financial management & subject to the outcome of that investigation, to terminate the elected council & appoint an Administrator.
John Richardson
Secretary/Treasurer
Bega Valley Shire Residents & Ratepayers Association
Tel: 0264945669
Email: secretary@begavalleyshireratepayers.asn.au
Website: http://www.begavalleyshireratepayers.asn.au