Need for fiscal probity on council

The LNY event was a great success, it was well attended, hosted a variety of performers and attractions during the day, and generated some very positive media coverage.

The letter I refer to was written by David Dawson, a community member on council’s major events advisory committee.

Mr Dawson has taken umbrage at an article published by the Leader, which referred to council deliberations on a significant budget over-expenditure incurred by the committee for the LNY event, without the authority to do so.

The council meeting was attended by a Leader reporter, and the deliberations were reported accurately. 

For those who may wish to check the veracity of the reporting, I refer you to council’s website which contains the recorded webcast of the meeting.

I note however, that Mr Dawson was not present at the council meeting, nor does he appear to have viewed the webcast.

As chair of council’s Community and Culture Standing Committee, I first became aware of the unauthorised expenditure three days prior to the LNY event on February 10, as council was being asked to retrospectively endorse an expenditure increase from $120,000 to $224,000 (87 per cent).

At no time did I attack the LNY event, or council staff, or “scream blue murder”, as alleged by Mr Dawson.

As a result of this unauthorised expenditure I sought to introduce some stricter governance and reporting measures, such as providing the council with the opportunity to approve significant budget variations before they occurred and to provide the general manager and mayor with the delegated authority to approve some increases in expenditure if a similar situation arose during the Christmas break. 

However, these measures were defeated by a narrow majority of councillors (one vote) who preferred to return to “the way it was always done” at the former Hurstville Council.

My concerns relate to governance and fiscal probity at council.  

To allege otherwise is mischievous and offensive, and shows little understanding of the legal and moral responsibilities held by those elected to public office. 

My first responsibility is to the residents and ratepayers of Georges River Council, and not to protect or promote the egos of some members of council’s Major Events Advisory Committee.

Cr Kathryn Landsberry, Deputy Mayor, Georges River Council

In reply to David Dawson’s letter “Floats were purchased” (Your View, March 14).

David Dawson fails to understand that even community events have to have a budget and there is no magic pudding to take care of budget overspends.

As a ratepayer I am grateful to Cr Kathryn Landsberry for her commitment to transparency. As an elected official she has a responsibility to ratepayers and should not be attacked for merely doing her job.

name supplied, Carss Park

David Dawson gives himself a pat on the back for spending ratepayers money and does not like criticism it seems.  

Many ratepayers do not require councils to stage events but would rather monies were spent on necessary services.

H. Wilson, Bexley

Re the article ‘‘Lunar New Year float cost’’ (Leader, March 7).

The article quotes Cr Vince Badalati as saying the costs for the 2018 Lunar New Year event increased from $120,000 to $225,000, due to add-ons not in the original budget and was just a cash-flow estimate. 

Would be great if we all had the same cavalier attitude Cr Badalati has with regard to how we spend other people’s money. I’m sure he would have a different attitude if the money was coming out of his bank account.

Rebecca White, Peakhurst