Surf Coast Shire bureaucrats are blocking councillors’ access to information, according to a councillor who stepped down over the issue this week.
Heather Wellington made the accusations at a council meeting on Tuesday night while announcing she would apply for leave to “reconsider her role as councillor”.
“We’re elected to govern the shire,” an emotional Cr Wellington told the Indy yesterday.
“The administration won’t provide me with information the community clearly expects I should have.
“I’m simply trying to help my community understand what council is doing with issues that are worrying them.”
The administration’s refusal to provide a breakdown of costs on an extra $150,000 for roads in Winchelsea particularly infuriated Cr Wellington.
The shire would spend part of the money on a customer liaison and inspection officer instead of on repairs and maintenance, she said.
“We’ve already got a customer service function. I can’t really see why we have to employ someone to do that.”
Many ratepayers had approached Cr Wellington about unsealed roads and the shire’s surveys indicated very low satisfaction rates in her Winchelsea ward, she said.
“I don’t think the people of Winchelsea have a habit of having unreasonably high expectations.”
Cr Wellington said her role was to represent ratepayers rather than “sit around a table once a month and only discuss issues the administration presented council”.
“Residents’ concerns would otherwise never make it to the chamber.
“I think the community has an entirely different expectation. They’d be shocked if they thought we weren’t there to follow up local planning issues.”
Shire chief executive officer Keith Baillie was technically able to withhold certain information, Cr Wellington said.
“He also has the power to provide it but he has chosen to restrict information about things the community clearly expect councillors to have a role in.”
Ratepayers were tired of councillors arguing over issues like oil drilling in Bass Strait or last year’s rainbow flag debate, Cr Wellington said.
“I’d strongly prefer that councillors would focus core services for the community.”
Ratepayers in the gallery on Tuesday applauded Cr Wellington as she announced her leave application.
Mr Baillie confirmed the shire was employing a person to ensure complainants were “aware of the outcome of their request” for road maintenance or repairs.
“Many of Cr Wellington’s requests for information do not relate to her role in participating in the decision-making of the council and have been declined for this reason.”
