APRIL EXTRAORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING OUTCOMES
Dubbo Regional Council (DRC) held an extraordinary Council meeting at 12pm Monday 12 April, 2021 with the below outcomes:
LEAVE OF ABSENCE – Councillors accepted a Leave of Absence from Councillor Ben Shields and Councillor Dayne Gumley, due to personal reasons.
MAYORAL MINUTE – THE REPUTATION OF COUNCIL AND THE PROTECTION OF THE COMMUNITY – Councillors accepted a Mayoral Minute, tabled by Acting Mayor Stephen Lawrence, that had eight recommendations. Those recommendations include adding two more Ordinary Council meetings, one on 19 April, and a second on 3 May 2021. These additional Ordinary Council meetings will allow staff time to prepare a number of reports, requested in the Mayoral Minute.
The Mayoral Minute includes a request for a confidential report, advising Councillors of any and all complaints, allegations, and suggestions of misconduct on behalf of any Councillor, who have at any stage of the term of Council been brought to the attention of any Council staff and not been the subject of a code of conduct process. The confidential report will also outline any complaints against any Councillor that have been withdrawn or dismissed without action. This report will be presented at the 19 April Council meeting.
Three additional reports will be presented at the 3 May Ordinary Council meeting, which will include a report advising DRC’s policies around bullying and harassment, and any reforms needed in order for them to be best practice. A second report will provide advice around what powers the Mayor in between Council meetings can be lawfully removed or reduced, and whether the Mayoral fees, expenses and facilities for the Mayor and Councillors and determined annually by Council resolution be lawfully reduced or eliminated.
A third report will be prepared for the 3 May Ordinary Council meeting, advising on the options for the appointment of an independent investigator, and possible terms of reference for such an investigation.
Councillors Greg Mohr and David Grant did not vote in favour of the recommendations.
The April Extraordinary Meeting has been livestreamed to DRC’s website and Facebook page, for members of the public who are interested in watching the meeting.
ENDS
Last Edited: 17 Jul 2023