Snowy Monaro Regional Council has today been issued a Performance Improvement Order (PIO) from the Honourable Ron Hoenig MP, Minister for Local Government, under Section 438a of the Local Government Act 1993.
In issuing today's order, Minister Hoenig stated that this step has been taken to establish clear expectations around councillor and Council performance over the next 12 months.
The PIO is available on Council's website and is attached to this notice.
This order requires Council as an organisation, and councillors as individuals, to take action to address three areas of concern:
- Councillor conduct in the chamber, in correspondence, and on social media
- Council's progress in implementing planned financial and organisational reforms
- Addressing work health and safety risks affecting Council staff
Council's existing Code of Conduct and Code of Meeting Practice detail the standards of behaviour required of elected councillors, and adherence to these policies would satisfy the requirements of the PIO.
The required improvements to Council's finances are in-line with the organisation's current long term financial plan. Required improvements to the organisation overall are in-line with Council's organisational reform program that commenced in 2023.
What happens from here?
Council will table the order at its February meeting in Cooma, scheduled for 1pm Thursday 20 February 2025. This meeting is open to the public and will be livestreamed at https://qrco.de/webcastSMRC.
When the Minister is satisfied that Council has addressed the concerns detailed in the PIO, notice will be provided in writing that no further action is anticipated.
If Council or councillors do not comply with the PIO, the Minister may order further intervention measures.
These could include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following:
- Suspension of Council and the appointment of an administrator
- A public inquiry
- Issuing compliance orders to individual councillors who fail to comply with the PIO
- Any councillor issued with a compliance order will no longer be entitled to act as a councillor
- It is formal misconduct for any councillor not to take action as required by the PIO
Council is committed to addressing the Minister's concerns, and looks forward to working closely with the Office of Local Government through the implementation of the PIO.
Regular updates will be issued on Council's progress in implementing today's order and in the event further directives are received from the Minister's office.
