By Laura Michell
Whittlesea council is set to be sacked by the state government, following a report from municipal monitor Yehudi Blacher that found serious governance failures at the council.
The government will table legislation tomorrow to dismiss the council and replace it with administrators.
Mr Blacher’s report will also be tabled. Star Weekly understands he found that the council’s governance had irretrievably collapsed.
Mr Blacher was appointed by the government to oversee the council in December following the sacking of former chief executive Simon Overland and complaints of bullying at the council
He was not expected to submit his interim report to the government until March 27.
It is understood Mr Blacher recommended the council be dismissed and replaced by administrators until the 2024 local government elections.
Local Government Minister Adem Somyurek said Mr Blacher had recommended the immediate dismissal of the council.
“The monitor found councillors have stopped acting in the best interests of the City of Whittlesea,” he said.
“We accept the recommendations.
“Residents and ratepayers have every right to be deeply disappointed in their council.”
Whittlesea councillor, and former mayor, Lawrie Cox said Mr Blacher had made the right decision.
“It’s a relief,” he said.
“The decision is the correct one as it is in the best interests of the ratepayers and residents of the City of Whittlesea.”
The council has been surrounded by controversy in recent months.
In November, Mr Overland announced he was taking indefinite leave from the council amid concerns for his health and wellbeing.
Councillors voted to sack Mr Overland three weeks later. They did not provide a reason for their decision.
Star Weekly understands the matter is before the Fair Work Commission.
More than 200 staff members have signed a petition calling for Mr Overland to be reinstated.
Mr Overland was the third chief executive to be shown the door at Whittlesea since April 2016, after long-term chief executive David Turnbull’s contract was not renewed and Michael Wotten was dismissed after less than 12 months in the job.
In February, the council’s former acting chief executive Kelvin Spiller revealed the council had spent $93,000 on external lawyers and public relations consultants since Mr Overland’s sacking.
Also last month, north ward councillor Ricky Kirkham sensationally resigned, saying he had lost confidence in the council.
As revealed by Star Weekly, Mr Kirkham was due to face a councillor conduct panel prior to his resignation, following an investigation by the Local Government Inspectorate.
The Victorian Electoral Commission had planned to conduct a countback on March 25 to fill the vacancy on the council .
Last week, Star Weekly revealed that 30 per cent of Whittlesea council staff do not feel safe at work and the number of staff reporting psychological stress as a result of councillor behaviour and decisions has increased, according to a council report.
