Cr Julian Fidge.
WANGARATTA councillor Julian Fidge has set the scene for another round of fireworks with three contentious notices of motion lodged for next week’s meeting.
He has asked that he be part of a sub committee to conduct the annual performance review of the council’s chief executive Doug Sharp, along with mayor Rozi Parisotto and other council newcomers, Paul O’Brien and Noel Amery.
Cr Fidge has also asked for Mr Sharp to provide a report, to the council’s meeting next month, outlining the reasons for engaging a consultant to perform executive staff support under emergency provisions agreed to at council’s previous meeting.
He wants to know how much the consultant will cost for the two months he has been hired and why the council couldn’t absorb the workload from existing resources.
Cr Fidge also wants council management, led by Mr Sharp, to table the risk assessment and relevant approvals for council’s involvement in the Target car park.
He said the notices of motion were not personal.
“I can see how it could be construed as that,” he said.
“The truth is we can only give direction to the chief executive to do something.
“We can’t instruct someone subordinate to him because he is responsible for them.
“None of this has ever been personal. It’s been all about governance.”
Cr Fidge said a sub committee of himself and councillors Parisotto, O’Brien and Amery would be best suited to the job of reviewing the chief executive’s performance.
“I think the people I have nominated should be on the committee, as opposed to just the business lobby of councillors McInerney, Atkins and Joyce,” he said.
“I honestly feel they primarily have the interest of business at heart whereas the people I have nominated will give a broader representation.”
Cr Fidge said he wanted transparency about the consultant appointment.
“I would like a report on what is going on and what it is going to cost us,” he said.
Cr Fidge has previously criticised the council’s involvement in the car park venture and wants to see the risk assessment he believes should have accompanied the deal.
“You can get an exemption and council may have one, but I don’t know about it,” he said.