- Date:
- 20 Sept 2019
The Local Government Inspectorate’s Annual Report 2018/19 provides information on our progress in strengthening the integrity, accountability and transparency of local government in Victoria.
The Inspectorate received and assessed 421 complaints over the year, the highest number of complaints for a non-election year and continues the trend of an 11% annual increase calculated across the 2016-20 council term.
Twenty-nine investigations were completed for the year, with some prolonged investigations extending beyond a 12-month timeframe.
One major project for the year focused on reviewing and reporting on the unique employer/employee relationship between a CEO and councillors. This work highlighted cases where either the employer, the employee or a combination had failed their local community and their organisation. The report was referenced across our state and in other jurisdictions.
The Inspectorate initiated or completed eight prosecutions, including gaining a conviction for the former Central Goldfields Council CEO on five charges of obtaining a financial advantage by deception and the conviction of a Wyndham councillor on eight charges related to interest return non-disclosures.
Chief Municipal Inspector David Wolf said:
As part of governance examination work to assess and help improve council operations, the Inspectorate worked with and at many smaller regional councils, delivering excellent outcomes to assist in their delivery of contemporary council governance.
Foreword from Chief Municipal Inspector David Wolf
Throughout the year we continued to provide an avenue for the sector and the community to raise concerns or seek advice relating to the governance operations of councils.
What we do
The Local Government Inspectorate is the dedicated integrity agency for local government in Victoria.
Reactive work
Reactive work includes responding to requests for information and enquiries, assessing complaints, conducting investigations and in some cases, prosecutions.
Proactive work
Proactive work includes specific council governance examinations and reviews of systemic or thematic issues across the sector.
Guidance and education
Our guidance and education to the sector is generated by our reactive and proactive work outcomes and includes newsletters, presentations, reports and other communication tools.
Corporate
Corporate operations overview.
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