Comment

Public enquiry must INCLUDE business

 DALLAS SHERRIGHAM

THE Public Inquiry in Central Coast Council’s financial disaster will begin shortly, but the opportunity for businesses to specifically give evidence has not been included.

Coast business and development suffered the most from the Council’s roughshod reign with major projects slowed or even stopped because of the nationwide backlash against the council meltdown. A leading real estate agent who did not want to be named said he knew of two major projects in Gosford CBD which collapsed because investors were worried about the Coast’s worsening reputation.

“Let’s put it this way, there were 14 cranes working in Gosford at the start of Central Coast Council, I now count just one.”

The general consensus is the Inquiry should have looked into Council’s interaction with business and whether the worsening perceived negative image of the voting bloc of eight councillors had a detrimental eff ect on business and development.

For example, Council inexplicably voted against any State Signifi cant developments on the Coast. This put a stop to the Northside Private Hospital.

Ms Roslyn McCulloch has been appointed as Commissioner to hold the Public Inquiry.

The Terms of Reference of the Inquiry including looking at whether the governing body met its obligations in a manner that maximised the success of gaining effi ciencies and fi nancial savings from the merger process, whether the governing body disregarded the fi nancial consequences of its decisions, and if the governing body’s decisions since 2017 contributed to the fi nancial position which the Council now fi nds itself in.

It will also consider if, as far as possible, that decisions taken by it had regard to the fi nancial sustainability of the council and that it kept under review the performance of the council, including that council spending was responsible and sustainable by aligning general revenue and expenses.

The Inquiry will also look at any other matter that warrants mention, particularly those that may impact on the eff ective administration of Council’s functions and responsibilities or the community’s confi dence in the Council being able to do so.

The Commissioner may make recommendations as the Commissioner sees fi t having regard to the outcomes of the Inquiry, including whether all civic offi ces at Central Coast Council should be declared vacant.

Submissions have been invited from persons with an interest in putting forward points of view relating to the Terms of Reference. Submissions received by the Inquiry will be made available to the public at the Commissioner’s discretion.

It was noted that the Commissioner was not obliged to automatically give a right of appearance to all persons wishing to appear before her.

However, some Coast businesspeople believe the Commissioner should call on business leaders such as Chambers of Commerce to give their view on Council’s performance.

Details of the venue and times of the public hearings will be announced in due course.

Roslyn McCulloch.

a.com.au

CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS

CCBA October - November 2020 | Issue 31 | www.coastba.com.au What went wrong at Central Coast Council?

THE AWARDS PAPER Central Coast Local Business Awards special feature insde.

n Handbrakes and Accelerators. Exclusive Analysis comment by leading businessman and Councillor Bruce McLachlan will shock many.

n Minister slams inept management. - “They’ve done nothing but write letters, issue media releases and set up a finance committee.” SEE PAGE 7 THE BIG CRASH THE BIG CRASH

CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS ACCESS OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2020

1 1 How CCBA reported the council crash.

Dallas Sherringham is editor at Central Coast Business Access. E: dallas@accessnews.com.au