Interim Administrator recommends Public Inquiry and review of Councillor structure

Interim Administrator Viv May has submitted a report to the Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock recommending a Public Inquiry under s438U of the Act into Armidale Regional Council (ARC) be held and a review of the Councillor structure following community consultation.

Mr May announced his recommendations at today’s Council Meeting in Guyra delivering an Interim Administrator Minute outlining his observations as to what led to his appointment as Interim Administrator of ARC. In accordance with his statutory obligations the Interim Administrator was required to submit a report to the Minister for Local Government no less than 14 days before the end of the initial period of suspension of Councillors. The Act requires the Interim Administrator include in his report any recommendations in relation to improving or restoring the proper and effective functioning of Council.

“I advised the Minister that in my view the community has lost trust in their elected representatives and staff are confused and demoralised by a lack of leadership and direction and political infighting,” said Mr May

“I have had the opportunity of hearing wide ranging and varied opinions of what led to the suspension of ARC. There was a consistent theme that deep divisions existed and that Council was not providing a proper and safe place of work for its staff.

ARC in my view has failed its community and needs a fresh start that focuses on the fundamentals of sound local government. This will ensure that ARC will be an effective and well respected Council into the future and take its rightful place as the lead Council in the New England region.”

A copy of the Interim Administrator Minute from the Ordinary Council Meeting is available here (PDF 127.3KB).

Published on 23 Sep 2020