The association was delighted with the decision taken by council to initiate a four year baseline audit review of its 2016–2020 financial accounts.
The association applauds the resolve of Crs Bain & Nadin in pursuing the proposed audit, in particular given a similar motion was defeated at council’s Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on July 13th last, while acknowledging support for the motion by Crs Allen & Fitzpatrick.
Speaking to her motion, Cr Bain said that completion of the audit review would provide certainty as to the status of council’s financial position, while providing a sound base for council’s future financial planning, help create trust & confidence in council in the minds of residents & ratepayers & lend confidence as to the financial standing of council for the incoming council in 2021.
Cr Bain made repeated reference to the number times council had been obliged to reject or defer accepting financial documents submitted by council management due to errors or uncertainty as to their accuracy as further justification for her concern, with this week’s report highlighting the discovery by staff of another $3.5M financial oversight.
Cr Jo Dodds strenuously opposed the motion, asserting that, in her view, the review was unnecessary & the work required would only act as a further burden on council staff. Crs Griff & Seckold voted with Cr Dodds in opposing the motion.
Cr Fitzpatrick spoke in favour of the motion, saying that he supported the review, if for no other reason than it would resolve any concerns about council’s financial standing.
While some might wonder why Cr Fitzpatrick changed his position since opposing a similar motion at the EGM last month, the association believes that the apparent refusal of the Minister for Local Government, Shelley Hancock, & the Member for Bega, Andrew Constance, to underwrite a more limited review, as proposed by him, may have influenced his decision.
Cr Dodds position was supported by Crs Griff & Seckold.
Prior to the meeting, Mr Lucas Scarpin, a former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) once again addressed council at its Public Forum, with his observations focused on the uncertainty of council’s financial position due to the numerous errors & corrections to council’s plans that have been required, council’s apparent inability to control or rein-in its spending & the lack of interest on the part of some councillors in addressing the underlying problems he had brought to council’s attention.
To drive home his concerns, Mr Scarpin asked councillors how they would feel if they inherited a council in the financial position that the current council is in.
The association believes that the decision taken by Crs Bain, Nadin, Allen & Fitzpatrick will have an immediate positive effect on the level of trust felt by residents & ratepayers towards council & open the way to council adopting a more open & transparent approach to the management of the shire’s affairs.
John Richardson
Secretary/Treasurer
Bega Valley Shire Residents & Ratepayers Association
Tel: 0264945669
Email: secretary@begavalleyshireratepayers.asn.au
Website: http://www.begavalleyshireratepayers.asn.au