THE timing of Gawler Council CEO Henry Inat’s proposal to extend his own contract – two years before it is due to expire – “raises alarm bells”, according to a local MP.
Member for Light Tony Piccolo, who is also opposition spokesperson for Local Government, says the proposed extension raises questions given by legislative reforms recently flagged in both the State Parliament and in a State Government discussion paper.
“From the feedback I have received from the community, I believe it would be extremely unwise for the council to proceed with the extension of the contract at this time,” Mr Piccolo said.
“While the terms and conditions of the CEO’s contract are a matter for the council to decide, they should have regard to community priorities and expectations.
“It would be very sad and unproductive if Gawler Council continuously
made the headlines for the wrong reasons like the City of Onkaparinga.”
A confidential 21-page report to a meeting of the council’s CEO performance management panel was last week leaked to print media organisations, including The Bunyip.
In his report, Mr Inat recommended that his salary package increase from $262,090 to $265,760, based on 1.4 per cent CPI, and asked for the exclusive use of a luxury 4WD vehicle.
He said his current contract ended in June next year.
“This is less than two years away and as such I think it’s appropriate that I raise the issue of my employment status here at the Town of Gawler,” he wrote.
“I’m confident that the organisation would be best placed if I continue in the CEO role over the coming period such that I can progress with implementing the many change programs in place driving the organisation to continue to evolute (sic) and growth (sic).”
Mr Inat told The Bunyip that council would be pursuing its “normal course of business” in all respects relative to current legislative provisions and associated policies and procedures.
“This includes (the) consideration of my employment,” he said.
“Council recently considered all the proposed local government reform suggestions, including CEO salaries.
“The administration presented the opinion that it supported this reform, to which I agree.
“Once in place, and with the appropriate parameters set, the new approach will provide for a consistent statewide methodology to CEO remuneration, which I’m sure will be consistent with community expectations.”
Under the proposed reforms, outlined in the State Government discussion paper:
- Responsibility for determining CEO remuneration would be given to the Remuneration Tribunal of South Australia.
- Councils would be required to complete independent annual CEO performance reviews. An independent performance review would be required before the extension of a CEO contract.
Mr Inat described the reforms as a “positive move for the sector”.
“Council, when it considered the wide-scope review, endorsed the majority of the changes as presented,” he said.
“A number have been questioned, but on balance, should the reforms which council supported materialise, then both councils and the community we serve will be better for it.
“I’m confident that the parameters to be applied relative to CEO remuneration levels will be fair and reasonable, whether the change is linked to council rate increases or such other metric.”
Mr Piccolo suggested that if legislative reforms regarding council CEO performance, remuneration and contracts are passed by the State Parliament in the new year, it may be necessary to “backdate their implementation to the date of the release of the discussion paper” to avoid councils circumventing the reforms.
“Given the CEO has just completed his first year of a three-year
contract, there appears to be no imperative for it to be extended at this time,” he said.
“In short it’s not a good look, and certainly doesn’t pass the pub
test.”
