Victorian Local Government Minister Marlene Kairouz will not call in administrators to Ararat Rural City at this time in response to a councilor’s specific request.
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Ararat councillor Peter Beales, at some point prior to Tuesday night’s ordinary general meeting, effectively asked Ms Kairouz to sack the council.
Cr Beales revealed his request during the meeting itself and within the final minutes of public items on the agenda.
Cr Beales used his time reserved to detailing his past month’s activities to also announce he had offered his resignation as a councillor if it would assist the administration process.
On Wednesday afternoon, Ms Kairouz said in response to Cr Beale’s request that she would prefer to see the municipal monitor see out her term.
Former City of Ballarat chief executive Janet Dore was appointed as monitor for two years in late August.
Ms Dore’s appointment was part of the state government’s response to the commission of inquiry into Ararat Rural City’s plan to abolish differential rates.
“We are well aware of the challenges facing Ararat Council - that’s why a monitor has been appointed to keep an eye on council and assist where possible,” Ms Kairouz said.
“This process needs to run its course before any further action is taken by the government.”
Fairfax Media understands that Cr Beales wrote a letter to Ms Kairouz and she plans to respond.
The Minister's office has received a letter from Cr Beales and the Minister will respond to him in due course.
Ms Dore’s reports to Ms Kairouz will help determine the state government’s future response as Ararat Rural City councillors work through a plan to implement the recommendations from the commission of inquiry.
While reading from a prepared statement, Cr Beales said the last year was “possibly the worst of my life.”
“I offered my resignation if this assists in getting transparent, honest government for the people of Ararat Rural City.”
Cr Beales is the third Ararat Rural City councilllor to resign or publicly weigh up resigning in the past three months.
Paul Hooper resigned the morning after the statutory meeting in October that elected Cr Glenda McLean as mayor, and Cr Jo Armstrong stated she was considering her position at the time.
Cr McLean has made an apology for the code of conduct issues that caused some councillors to protest her election as mayor.
On Wednesday, Ms Kairouz appointed administrators to Central Goldfields Shire following criminal charges being laid against its former chief executive for alleged financial deception and claims that flood recovery funds went missing.
The state government also this week unveiled proposed changes to the Local Government Act that would grant itself more power to target individual councillors for ‘poor performance’.