Anyone like free lease of a public hall?

Learning recently the Shire's swimming pool kiosk had been handed over for free to a private individual for use as a business and that this breaches the Local Government Act (see post below) reminded me of the strange situation regarding use of the Yornup Hall.

Those who have followed Council over the past few years would know that I fought long and hard, but in vain, to have the Yornup Hall managed by the Council like every other publicly-owned hall and Shire asset.

For many years, the CEO has advised Council that management of and funds raised from the use of Yornup Hall should be allowed to remain in the hands of a private group of locals known as the Yornup Hall Committee.  Compliant councillors have allowed this appalling situation to continue, despite me pointing out repeatedly that it was against the principles of  proper governance and accountability.

Councillors who may have been quite comfortable supporting something improper may not be willing to remain supportive if it turns out the arrangement is also illegal.

Just like the swimming pool kiosk, the hall seems to have been handed over on a free lease basis and on my reading of Section 3.58 of the Local Government Act this would also appear to be a breach because no-one else has ever been given the opportunity to bid for the right to manage and operate the hall.

If any councillor feels uncomfortable about the possibility they may have unwittingly sanctioned an illegal use of a public asset, they should contact me to discuss how the situation could be resolved.

Simply following and hiding behind the advice of the CEO might not provide enough protection if I am right about this issue.

Rare exposure to outside scrutiny exposes many problems

It is bad enough having to pay ridiculously high rates which go up alarmingly every year, but when you find out the money being stripped from us is not only being wasted on silly projects (like a new library in the digital information age) but also being mis-managed, you start to see red.

Our elected representatives are busy glossing over and moving on after seeing a highly embarrassing consultants report which looked at the financial procedures within the Shire.

Among the explosive revelations which you probably won't read about in the local press:

- someone at the Shire breached the Local Government Act by allowing the swimming pool manager to have free use of the office at the pool to run a kiosk for private profit

- staff at the tip (landfill site) have been allowed to dip into cash received from the recycling centre from time to time to pay for "stationery" before the money is accounted for. (Why can't they use Council stationery??) 


- cash advances are routinely given to Shire officers without them having to sign for the money


- senior staff have been given corporate credit cards, but there is no policy on what they may be used for, opening the Shire up to Craig Thompson-style abuses


To top it all off, the consultants found it strange that ratepayers who are late paying their rates are hit with penalties, while no such penalties are levied upon any of the Council's other debtors.


The Council has decided to address the issues identified, but not straight away. These things take time, we are being told.


I wonder what will be done about the breach of the Local Governement Act?

Watch this space.