Boost for mayor’scharter

By Melissa Meehan
Cr Yesil said that recommendations made by the ombudsman during their investigation of Brimbank would potentially strengthen the reform charter.
“As a council which is leading the state on formulating reforms directed at enhancing accountability and transparency… I believe it is important for us to be responsive,” Cr Yesil said.
“That is why I have asked the CEO to prepare a report to council and provide a draft of the ATA Reform Charter to the Ombudsman seeking input.”
If passed, the reform charter would introduce some of the state’s toughest performance standards for City of Dandenong councillors.
While half of the 30 recommendations included in the Ombudsman’s report are not able to be influenced by council, Cr Yesil said she was open to including those that council had the power to pursue.
“The Ombudsman has some very good initiatives which are worth considering,” she said.
“And I believe the recommendations are consistent with the ATA Reform Charter.”
The charter has recently faced tough opposition from a few councillors, but a majority voted for it to be sent out for public comment at last week’s council meeting.
Two recommendations of the Ombudsman’s report into Brimbank Council included stopping councillors from being employed by federal and state members of parliament and a regular audit of councillor mobile telephone bills.
Cr Yesil said while it was up to the State Government to accept the recommendation over the employment of councillors in parliamentary offices, the telephone bill audits would be part of discussions.
The charter will go back to council for a vote in the next few months.
“It may be amended as a result of the new ideas of the community and stakeholders or from the Ombudsman’s recommendations,” Cr Yesil said.