MONDAY UPDATE:
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The ABC's 7.30pm NSW show covered ''Rockdale Council descends into toxic row over development'' on Friday night. See the video here.
THURSDAY UPDATE:
A spokeswoman for Minister Toole said onThursday that concerns have been raised with the repeated lack of a quorum at Rockdale City Council.
“The failure of seven Rockdale City Councillors to either attend or remain at eight council meetings over a two month period displays a pattern of inappropriate behaviour,’’ she said.
“The council is invited to make submissions to the Minister in respect of the proposed order. Rockdale City Council has 21 days to provide a submission.”
WEDNESDAY:
NSW Minister for Local Government Paul Toole has warned Rockdale Council to improve its performance to break the stalemate over the sale of Chapel Street.
A decision on the sale was left in limbo after the Liberal councillors and Cr Michael Nagi (independent) failed to attend eight council meetings in recent months.
That left the council without a quorum and without the ability to make decisions and led to fed-up residents protesting outside Rockdale Town Hall on November 11.
The government has declared an intention to issue a performance improvement order. If lodged, the order would allow the council to reach a quorum with just seven councillors.
Councillors have 21 days to make a submission before the minister decides whether to issue the order or not.
It would allow key decisions on the sale of Chapel Street and the tender for the new Bexley Pool to go ahead.
Mayor Shane O’Brien announced the possibility of the minister's notice as part of a mayoral minute raised at the council meeting on Wednesday night.
Residents also did a "snap placard wave" before the meeting.
‘‘The minister made it very clear that the councillors’ behaviour was taken into account when making this decision.’’ Cr O’Brien said.
‘‘He put politics aside and he should be commended for that. He has shown very good judgment.
‘‘I’m really proud that we’ve been able to show that we run a sustainable and transparent council.
‘‘It’s very clear that the community expected something better,’’ he said.
‘‘What the councillors do now is a matter for them but now their absence cannot hold anything up.
‘‘It just shows that the Baird government doesn’t have confidence in these Liberal councillors.’’
The Liberal councillors attended Wednesday night's meeting.
Would you support a decision to issue Rockdale Council with a performance improvement order?