A GAWLER councillor has echoed concerns of the deputy Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) around councils debating important policy in meetings inaccessible to the public.
Deputy ICAC Michael Riches released his evaluation of Playford Council last week, outlining a range of concerns for both Playford and all councils around the state.
He found the council was using informal gatherings and workshops – which were often closed or held during the middle of the day – to facilitate debate amongst elected members to shape policy.
When the topics discussed were put in front of elected members again at a formal meeting, they were often passed without debate, leaving the public out of the decision-making process.
Gawler councillor Ian Tooley agreed with Mr Riches findings, and said local residents were often omitted from important debate on issues such as rural zoning and the Gawler Civic Centre.
“I think we should have more workshops and they should absolutely be open and held at a reasonable time in the evening,” he said.
“They should be well advertised. There has been times where I’ve had to tell staff to put them on the public calendar so people know it’s on.
“We’re their (the public’s) representatives, we’re not there to push our own ideology.”
An informal gathering or workshop is a meeting which allows open discussion and questions without the rules and regulations which accompany regular council meetings.
They are often open to the public, unless the matter discussed is of a confidential nature, but are often held during the day, making them inaccessible for most of the public.
Mr Riches said Playford, and other councils, should “exercise caution” in the way informal gatherings are used.
“Rather, the vice arises in the extent to which the administration might ‘fish’ for support or otherwise for a proposal, and tailor a proposal based upon the views expressed by elected members during those gatherings,” he said.
“While it may be a fine line, there is a risk that the council will face an allegation that, in the course of an informal gathering, it was able to ‘effectively obtain’ a decision on a matter outside of a formal council meeting or committee meeting, which is expressly prohibited by section 90(8) of the LG (Local Government) Act.
“Importantly, the LG Act is clear in its intention that informal gatherings are not a forum for obtaining, or effectively obtaining, decisions of the elected body.
“That should occur in a formally constituted meeting of the council or council committee.”
