Home›Questions on Notice›QoN 6288

❓ A WA parliamentary question probes the Minister regarding procedural fairness in issuing a Show Cause Notice to the Town of Cambridge, specifically concerning evidence received about alleged breaches of council member roles and procurement processes. The Minister declined to answer due to ongoing court proceedings and an incomplete inquiry.

AnsweredQoN 6288Legislative Assembly

Asked

25 June 2020

Member

Mr S.K. L'Estrange

Portfolio

Local Government; Heritage; Culture and the Arts

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the Show Cause Notice delivered to the Town of Cambridge on 26 May 2020, in which you write “1. I suspect that the Council has failed to ensure that Council members have an understanding of and observe their respective roles, such that the Town’s employees rather than Council members undertake administrative and operational functions. In particular a) At meetings held on 7 February 2018, 15 May 2018, 28 August 2018 and 9 April 2020, Council: i. passed motions appointing specific lawyers or law firms to act for or provide advice to the Town ii. did not observe any procurement processes or purchasing policy when engaging legal services; and iii. authorised the Mayor to provide instructions directly to Lawyers;”, and I ask: (a) Without disclosing the author of any evidence you received, how many witnesses provided evidence to you, and on what date(s), in relation to: (i) 1.(a)(i) above; (ii) 1.(a)(ii) above; and (iii) 1.(a)(iii) above; (b) Was any evidence received which was provided on behalf of an organisation(s)? If yes, what organisation and on what dates(s) in relation to: (i) 1.(a)(i) above ; (ii) 1.(a)(ii) above; and (iii) 1.(a)(iii) above; (c) Prior to issuing the Show Cause Notice on 26 May 2020, did you notify the Town of Cambridge Council that you had received this evidence, and if yes, when did you notify them; (d) Prior to issuing the Show Cause Notice on 26 May 2020, did you provide an opportunity for the Mayor and/or Councillors of the Town of Cambridge to respond to the evidence you received: (i) If yes, who did you receive responses from and on what date(s); and (ii) If you are unable to provide names for (i) above, how many Councillors did you receive a response from which directly related to the evidence you received; and (e) If no to (d), how was procedural fairness provided to the Mayor and Council of the Town of Cambridge to respond to the evidence you received?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered

11 August 2020

Responded by

Minister for Local Government; Heritage; Culture and the Arts

Response time

1 days

(a-e) As this matter is currently before the Court it would be inappropriate for the Minister to comment. It is also not appropriate for the Minister to comment on any details pertaining to the Authorised Inquiry until such time as it is completed.

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