A former Ararat Rural City council mayor hopes the resignation of councillor Darren Ford will signal a new beginning for the council.

Paul Hooper resigned in November last year due to election of Ms McLean as mayor, because of what he called a difference in “core values”.

As a former mayor, Mr Hooper said while he hoped the resignations would signal a fresh start for the council, there was still plenty of work to do to regain the public’s trust. 

“When I left, and my comments were primarily directed at Ms McLean and Mr Ford,” he said. “It was impossible for me to work with people who I don’t trust and who don’t have the community’s confidence.

“I hope now this a giant step forward and a reset for the community, as there’s a lot of cynicism in relation to the council.

“I’m pleased the public rating strategy jury has taken place, it was necessary … but there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done in relation to the council’s obligations to the Commission of Inquiry report, around sustainability and corporate structure.”

Another councillor, Peter Beales, offered his resignation from the council in December. He said at a general council meeting 2017 had been “possibly the worst” year of his life, and he had asked Local Government Minister Marlene Kairouz to call in administrators.

The municipality has announced a count back for one of the vacant councillor positions on May 21, after which a new mayor will be elected.

This article was amended for clarity on May 11. Cr Peter Beales announced at the December ordinary meeting he had offered his resignation to the Local Government Minister Marelen Kairouz, but he has not stepped down. 

EARLIER

Ararat Rural City councillor Darren Ford has resigned.

Council’s chief executive Allan Bawden said Cr Ford, who has been on council for almost two years, would step down immediately. 

Cr Ford told The Ararat Advertiser he had decided to resign because of “family and business reasons”. 

“I would like to thank Darren for his contribution as a councillor over the past 18 months and wish him well for the future,” Mr Bawden said.

It follows a huge month for Ararat Rural City Council, where controversial mayor Glenda McLean eventually resigned after public backlash due to her ‘fly in-fly-out’ job in northern Queensland.

The Minister for Local Government has been advised of Cr Ford’s departure and will initiate a Victorian Electoral Commission countback to fill the vacancy.