FRANKSTON Council ratepayers forked out an extra $40,000 dollars towards the CEO’s remuneration in 2024, council’s annual report has revealed.
Phil Cantillon was appointed Frankston Council CEO in September 2019 after a short stint as acting CEO. In mid-2023 he signed a new contract to extend his tenure until 2026. Frankston Council’s 2023/2024 annual report has revealed that the CEO’s total remuneration was between $470,000 and $479,999 in 2024. In 2023 the highest paid member of Frankston Council’s staff received between $420,000 and $429,999. The 2021/2022 annual report stated that Frankston Council’s highest paid member of key management received remuneration between $380,000 and $389,999.
Total remuneration reported in council’s annual reports includes salary, paid leave, superannuation, termination payments, net movement in leave provisions, and contribution for the private use of a vehicle if applicable. Higher payments to other council officers during a period of leave and an increase in superannuation were significant contributors to the extra spending in the 2023/2024 financial year, The Times understands.
Council’s corporate and commercial services director Kim Jaensch said “the remuneration of key management personnel information reported in our annual report includes a range of costs associated with roles, and not just individual salaries. Other components include higher duties paid to directors when acting as CEO, paid leave, accrued long service leave as well as statutory superannuation increases.” “CEO remuneration is subject to the review of the CEO Employment and Remuneration Committee and is reviewed annually in line with the CEO performance review and contract requirements,” she said.
Frankston Council’s 2023/2024 annual report also revealed that council recorded a surplus of $32.62 million. That surplus includes grant money received for the Kananook Commuter Car Park project and a $17.748 million increase in “non-monetary contributions”, mostly related to the Sandhurst Estate formal asset transfer. Without non-recurrent capital grants, cash capital contributions, and non-monetary capital contributions, Frankston Council recorded a deficit of $23.185 million in the 2023/2024 financial year. Frankston Council increased rate revenue by 3.5 percent in 2023/2024, the maximum increase allowed under the state government’s rate cap. The average rate per property assessment was $1725 – in comparison, the average rate per property assessment in 2019/2020 was $1589.
The annual report highlighted the completion of the $36.6 million Jubilee Park Stadium, the $8.82 million Eric Bell Pavilion, and the $5.33 million Kevin Collopy Pavilion as among the highlights of the last year. A statement signed by council CEO Phil Cantillon and the mayor Nathan Conroy read “the year saw completion of a number of major infrastructure projects including the landmark Jubilee Park Stadium. This state-of-the-art facility has become a central hub for sports in the southeast, boosting our local economy, increasing accessibility and participation in sports, and strengthening community connections.”
“Other significant investments in our facilities include the redeveloped Eric Bell, Kevin Collopy, and Lloyd Park pavilions, providing modern, inclusive environments for local sports clubs, the completion of a new shared user path connecting Frankston Railway station with surrounding residential areas, and major upgrades to Overport Bike Park and Frankston Sharks BMX Club,” the statement read.
First published in the Frankston Times – 15 October 2024