❓ Question on Notice regarding a Show Cause Notice delivered to the Town of Cambridge concerning alleged interference by the Mayor in planning application assessments. The Minister's response refers to a report and other questions, providing limited direct answers.
AnsweredQoN 6482Legislative Assembly
Asked
15 October 2020
Member
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 “2. I suspect that the Council has failed to ensure that the working environment and relationship between Council, the CEO and the employees of the Town enables the CEO and employees to carry out their functions without inappropriate involvement or interference by councillors. In particular c) employees of the Town have reported that they are not able to properly perform their functions and provide professional advice in relation to the assessment of planning applications because of interference by the Mayor.”, 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) (2)(c) 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) (2)(c) 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
19 November 2020
Responded by
Minister for Local Government; Heritage; Culture and the Arts
Response time
12 days
(a) I refer to the Report of the Inquiry into the Town of Cambridge paragraphs 54 and 55.
54. The Town's employees have expressed fear about providing frank advice to the Town, and in particular the Mayor around planning matters.
55. For example, on 6 February 2020, several employees and the Mayor attended a Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP) meeting. One of the Town's employees was asked to provide information at the meeting that Mayor Shannon became unhappy with, and the Mayor told another employee to ‘shut her up’.
(b) No
(c-d) No
(d)(i-ii) Not applicable
(e) Please refer to Legislative Assembly question on notice 6477
54. The Town's employees have expressed fear about providing frank advice to the Town, and in particular the Mayor around planning matters.
55. For example, on 6 February 2020, several employees and the Mayor attended a Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP) meeting. One of the Town's employees was asked to provide information at the meeting that Mayor Shannon became unhappy with, and the Mayor told another employee to ‘shut her up’.
(b) No
(c-d) No
(d)(i-ii) Not applicable
(e) Please refer to Legislative Assembly question on notice 6477
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