Wodonga Council adopts review of instruments of delegation to staff on casting vote of mayor

Cr Olga Quilty attempted to put the review of delegations on hold until December and floated the creation of a planning and strategy committee consisting of all councillors with its meetings to be open to the public.

She gained the backing of councillors Libby Hall and Ron Mildren, but was opposed by Cr Poulton, Cr Kat Bennett and Cr John Watson with Cr Graeme Simpfendorfer a late apology for the meeting.

Cr Quilty said the issues at Junction Place had brought delegations to a head.

"It is not appropriate to address questions by giving out personal assurances on Facebook," she said.

"Democracy is not about personalities.

"It is about solid structures and checks and balances."

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Cr Hall said she had strong community feedback on the power balance between councillors and staff.

"People ask why we have delegated this authority off and I have been asking this same question for a long, long time," she said.

"Councillors need to do their job and not delegate everything off we can to the CEO and staff.

"I don't understand why our council wants to delegate so much off."

Asked by Cr Bennett what would be different if a committee was created, Cr Quilty said: "We have briefings, which are not recorded, which are not allowing debate, which are not allowing publicity and transparency,

"We should not rely on personal assurances, we should have a working committee which would have meetings, which would have its own instruments, its own charter and be broadcast to the public."

Cr Ron Mildren.said councillors were hamstrung under its present structure and additional powers handed to staff would be detrimental.

"The structures we have in place for briefings aren't official meetings where any decisions can be made," he said.

"It is all very well for officers to come to us and say 'we've prepared this document, say yes or no'.

"The pendulum has gone too far in Wodonga Council in terms of delegations. We have abrogated responsibility on too many things."

Cr Bennett: said "The delegations are set to ensure the organisation can run smoothly and councillors can focus on strategy and not day-to-day decisions.

"If something is being misused let's have that conversation."

Chief executive Mark Dixon said delegations helped to "run an efficient and effective business".

"I would like to discuss those areas where councillors think officers have poorly exercised a delegation."

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