Brimbank council has rejected a City of Melbourne push to reveal the full financial details of its councils’ five most senior officers, despite calls from residents for greater transparency.
Earlier this month, the City of Melbourne took to the National General Assembly of Local Government in Canberra a motion calling for councils to show “leadership in good governance and transparency”.
Its seven-point plan calls on all councils to fully disclose in annual reports the salaries of their five most senior officers and councillor expense claims, and provide audio recordings of council and committee meetings. It also calls for the pre-approval of interstate and international travel by councillors at open council or committee meetings; at least 15 minutes each month for unscripted, oral public questions at meetings; and a register of the terms of any arrangements with third parties occupying council-owned land and buildings.
Brimbank chairman of administrators John Watson said the council already provided sufficient levels of transparency.
“Council does support improvements to transparency for local government and already publicly reports member-of-council expenses
to a council meeting on a quarterly basis,” he said.
Luke Power, of the Sunshine West Action Group, which has previously sought details on the pay packets of the chief executive officer and administrators, said the Melbourne proposal “would be a very positive step”.
“Although there is meant to be, there is currently no transparency in Brimbank,” he said.
Keen council watcher Chris O’Neill, who requested the full financial details of the chief executive officer at the past three council meetings, agrees. Mr O’Neill said he believed that in four years, the chief executive’s salary had risen by more than $100,000.
“That, in my eyes, is well and truly above inflation,” he said. “Is the CEO meeting performance targets? If so, who sets them and who monitors performance?”
He said he was working on a petition to put to the council.
The council’s 2015-16 budget reveals a total of $533,000 under “CEO and Executive Service Division”, but that does not include council administrators.
“Council cannot provide a breakdown as this would infringe on the privacy of some council officer positions,” a council spokesman said.
“Some of this information may be viewed on the public register of council management salaries.”
The council’s top-paid officer in 2013-14 took home between $370,000 and $379,000.
