JUDICIAL INQUIRY INTO THE FINANCIAL CRISIS FACING THE CENTRAL COAST COUNCIL
Petitioner:
Ms Susan Greene
| Member:
Harris, David
| No. of Signatories:
21,422
| Date closed:
26/02/2021
To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly,
The citizens and ratepayers of the Central Coast draw your attention to the financial crisis facing the Central Coast Council :
* accumulated debt since amalgamation in 2016 of a reported $565 million,
* accumulated losses over the past 4 years of well over $200 million,
* unlawful and unauthorised use of Restricted Funds,
* inability to pay staff and wages in October, 2020 without a bailout by the NSW Government of $6.2 million leading to the suspension of the Council and the appointment of an Administrator.
We respectfully petition the Assembly to:
1. Hold a Judicial Inquiry to investigate :
a) how this financial crisis happened and who is responsible,
b) the poor performance and breaches of integrity requirements by the Council,
c) reforms to the Local Government Act to protect the community from the impacts of financial mismanagement and malfeasance (if any) in the future,
d) whether Councillors and senior staff were negligent in their duty to properly manage the Council and whether they have been dealt with appropriately,
e) the impact of amalgamation on the Council's financial problems,
f) any other matters relating to the poor performance of the Council.
2. Request the Minister for Local Government to delay any application by the Council to IPART for a Special Rate Variation of 10% or 15% and any decision on the sale of Council assets until residents can consider the findings of the Judicial Inquiry and its recommendations.
