At this week’s ordinary council meeting, councillors noted that in the opinion of its Performance Review Committee, council’s general manager Leanne Barnes, “is performing more than satisfactorily & the councillors are appreciative of her commitment & dedication to the organisation & the Bega Valley community”.
In a clear sign that it had damned Barnes with faint praise, the Performance Review Committee also noted that “the general manager, Leanne Barnes, did not meet expectations in the area of finance”.
Before anyone asks, the Performance Review Committee rightly consists of all councillors, although the former Mayor was probably not included as she is currently enjoying a leave of absence in an attempt to become more self-important.
Of course, in the interests of openness & transparency, the committee did not bother us with any details as to where or how the general manager had specifically fallen short of its expectations or if it was just the fact that overall everything had turned to shit & they had to blame someone other than themselves.
Mind you, the association maintains that the committee had plenty of reasons to choose from if they could be bothered, including:
• 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 almost $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; &
Ms Barnes was doubtless surprised by council’s poor rating of her financial capabilities, in particular when it was less than two months ago that Cr Bain had publicly confirmed that the other five female councillors (Dodds, Griff, McBain, Tapscott & Seckold) had all acknowledged that they did not even understand council’s finances.
Nevertheless, given the latest uncertainties about the council’s financial situation brought to light at this week’s meeting, a change in the view of some councillors was all the more likely.
As the association understands it, the motion was moved by Crs Dodds & Seckold, supported by Crs Bain, Nadin & Tapscott, whilst Crs Fitzpatrick & Allen abstained (which is the same as voting against the Motion). Cr Griff was nowhere to be found & as previously observed, Cr McBain was absent on approved leave.
If nothing else, it appears that “the sisterhood” is no longer operating as effectively as it has over the past four years.
Even when it comes to the latest Long Term Financial Plan & 2020-2021 Operational Plan & Budget, councillors have chosen to incorporate the numbers reflecting the same Special Rate Variation (SRV) that they had previously dropped unceremoniously back in January, clearly signalling that they have no intention of investigating alternate avenues to finance their way out of their current predicament.
The association contends that none of the members of the current council deserve the confidence of residents & ratepayers any more than does council’s general manager, Ms Barnes.
While it is fair to acknowledge that Crs Bain & Nadin have shown some interest in trying to improve council’s financial performance, the association believes that has been way too little & way too late.
The association contends that the residents & ratepayers are effectively being victimised by the NSW Government by being denied the legitimate right to sack the current council at the ballot box & to deal effectively with the non-performance issues of the general manager, in particular as the Minister for Local Government has refused calls for an investigation into the council’s financial management.
The association also believes that should council’s financial performance continue to deteriorate ahead of the next local government elections, then the NSW Government may leave itself open to legal action & claims of financial compensation from ratepayers.
John Richardson
Secretary/Treasurer
Bega Valley Shire Residents & Ratepayers Association
Tel: 0264945669
Email: secretary@begavalleyshireratepayers.asn.au
Website: http://www.begavalleyshireratepayers.asn.au