Shoalhaven City Councillor Andrew Guile has unleashed on his colleagues for glossing over crucial financial details, and not making informed decisions.
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“We really do have some very lazy councillors who don’t want to get involved in overseeing financial matters,” Cr Guile said.
“This is what we’re elected to do.”
Cr Guile made reference to council’s decision to apply for a $57 million loan.
Councillors were not provided with any specifics about the loan, and voted blindly on the matter at the most recent ordinary meeting on February 27.
Cr Guile’s voting bloc voted against the recommendation pending more information, but they were outvoted.
“The Greens, Team Gash and Labor councillors all voted to approve the agreement,” Cr Guile said.
“When I pointed out to the general manager that he had failed to provide us with the $57 million agreement that he wanted us to approve, instead of withdrawing the request he promised to send out a copy after the meeting.
“So council voted blindly to enter into this agreement.”
Upon reading the agreement, Cr Guile discovered a possible issue with it.
“There are provisions in the agreement that may bring us into conflict with our divestment policy,” he said.
“It should have been raised, discussed, and understood by councillors beforehand.”
He believes council staff have been “disingenuous” in the past, when presenting information to IPART, all the more reason to be vigilant.
“Our accountants are clever, they created this narrative we are poor, we have no money, but any independent person who has a proper look would say that's not the case,” Cr Guile said.
“By separating funds they were able to argue we needed a rate rise.”
Cr Guile is concerned with the way matters are prioritised.
“Councillors argue passionately one way or another, often for matters of just a few thousand dollars,” he said.
“But they are not engaging with serious financial matters, leaving it up to staff to make decisions for them.”