Liberal and Labor councillors respond to independent's stinging criticism of shire council's performance

Tony Robins, the lead candidate for Shire Independents, said, during interactions as treasurer of Sylvania Heights Youth and Community Club and through other organisations, he had seen inefficiencies at councillor and staff level.

Mr Robins said residents were unhappy with the council's performance, "a bit more energy and fresh faces" were needed and the domination by the major parties removed.

Deputy mayor Tom Croucher was taken aback having received an email in June this year from three Sylvania Heights youth club officials, including Mr Robins, thanking him for "all your efforts over the last six months" to secure extra funding to renovate the playing fields.

"I worked for many hours over many weeks with staff and councillors to have the funding for their project in this year's budget," Cr Croucher said.

"When Mr Robins was not a candidate for the next election, he was happy to put his name to the email.

"But, now that Mr Robins wants to be elected to council, I am inefficient, lacking energy and the residents are unhappy with my performance."

Cr Croucher, a Liberal who is retiring after nine years' service on council, said the range of matters councillors dealt with was extensive.

"The role calls for people who are positive, dedicated and willing to learn - mostly from council's excellent staff," he said.

"We do not need people with a negative and aggressive attitude who claim they will solve all the problems."

Labor councillor and former state MP Barry Collier, who is also retiring, said, "By and large, I believe the majority of elected Sutherland councillors are committed to the shire and their wards, despite the 'Yes Minister' environment in which they often operate".

"In my view, there are far too many agendas which are not of the councillors' own making," he said.

"When it comes to development issues, councils are now akin to the dogsbodies of the current state government.

"Not only are the councillors powerless, they continually cop the community flak when new, large development proposals rear their ugly heads."

Cr Collier said, while councillors on both sides generally worked well together, such as in supporting funding for the Sylvania Heights club, "the political environment can be toxic".

"At times, the council chamber provides the forum for the underlying factional warfare within the local Liberal Party," he said.

Cr Collier said an example was that "10 minutes before the coup which would see Carmelo Pesce replaced by Steve Simpson as mayor", a senior Liberal asked him (Cr Collier) if he would like to be mayor, and said he could "make it happen".

"I naturally declined," Cr Collier said.

"There is, of course, room for change in the way council operates," Cr Collier said.

"In my view, it's high time the people of the shire had a popularly elected mayor, rather than having the 'face of the shire' decided behind closed doors after polling day and mid-term elections.

"Sadly, and even after 115 years since the council's formation, there appears to be no appetite for this.

"It's always easy to take a swipe at councillors and, sadly, being a politician these days is like wearing a badge of shame.

"I'd encourage voters to satisfy themselves that the 'independent' they may be thinking of voting for is not merely a conduit for directing their preferences to a political party."