AN alleged leak of the findings of a councillor conduct panel hearing will be investigated by the Local Government Investigations and Compliance Inspectorate at the request of Frankston mayor Cr James Dooley.
The Times revealed last month that a Municipal Association of Victoria facilitated panel found deputy mayor Cr Colin Hampton (‘Councillor breached code’, The Times 20/6/16) breached code of conduct clauses in the Local Government Act over the way he “angrily” spoke to two council employees in public at a developer hosted event to promote the $80 million Allure Bayside apartment project in November at The Deck bar last year.
A redacted version of the MAV panel report, omitting the names of some witnesses, was subsequently posted on council’s website after councillors voted at a public council meeting on 27 June to release the report (‘Conduct panel report released’, The Times 4/7/16).
When asked if he had requested an external investigation into a leak of the report Cr Dooley said the Inspectorate is aware of the alleged leak.
“They already know about it and it’s a breach of the law,” he said.
“It’s exactly the same as stealing and breaches like this are slanted in a certain way.”
Cr Hampton, Cr Glenn Aitken and Cr Brian Cunial criticised “selective leaks” to the media at the June public council meeting before voting with fellow councillors to publicly release the report.
Cr Darrel Taylor also faced the MAV facilitated panel and allegations he breached the Local Government Act by speaking at the November function on behalf of council were dismissed.
Any action by the Inspectorate will bring the number of investigations into Frankston Council matters up to at least three.
The Times understands the Local Government Investigations and Compliance Inspectorate will look into spending on street furniture in Wells St amid claims of a budget blowout.
In a separate matter, Cr Dooley confirmed at last month’s public council meeting that notes he and council CEO Dennis Hovenden took at a December meeting with the Allure Bayside developer after the November function have been referred to an “appropriate authority” amid allegations, detailed in the conduct hearing report, that Cr Darrel Taylor was involved in the writing of a letter of complaint from the developer to council.
Cr Taylor denies the allegation and The Times understands the developer told council this month that the councillor did not draft the letter.
The Inspectorate refuses to comment on any ongoing investigations.
