❓ Question regarding the Department of Local Government and Communities' investigation processes, specifically concerning complaints against senior executive staff in local governments and the lack of a formal complaints mechanism for CEOs. The Minister's response indicates investigations *can* include scrutiny of how councils handle staff complaints, but there are no current plans to expand the Local Government Standards Panel's remit to include CEO complaints.
AnsweredQoN 2116Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Department of Local Government and Communities monitoring and compliance functions, and I ask: (a) when conducting investigations which lead to recommendations to assist local governments to improve their operations, do such investigations include the investigation of senior executive staff when the local government in question has dismissed complaints against senior executive staff without investigation; (b) if no to (a), why not; (c) if council and the senior executive staff are working together in a manner that causes community concern, how can a community member make a complaint about a local government Chief Executive Officer (CEO); and (d) will the Minister review the Local Government Act 1995 to provide a complaints mechanism to the Local Government Standards Panel to allow complaints about a CEO to be made?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
2 December 2014
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Local Government
Response time
40 days
(a) Such investigations can include the manner in which a local government and, in particular, a Council have responded to complaints about the conduct of staff.
(b) Not applicable
(c) A complaint can be made to either the Mayor or Shire President or direct through the Department of Local Government and Communities.
(d)
Local Government (Rules of Conduct) Regulations 2007
were introduced to provide a mechanism to deal with complaints about local government elected member behaviour. There are no plans at present to expand the Regulations to deal with local government Chief Executive Officers.
(b) Not applicable
(c) A complaint can be made to either the Mayor or Shire President or direct through the Department of Local Government and Communities.
(d)
Local Government (Rules of Conduct) Regulations 2007
were introduced to provide a mechanism to deal with complaints about local government elected member behaviour. There are no plans at present to expand the Regulations to deal with local government Chief Executive Officers.
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