Local Government Act 1989 opened on a table

Monitor appointed for Ararat Rural City Council

09 Jan 2012

The Minister for Local Government, Jeanette Powell , has appointed a monitor to Ararat Rural City Council.

The appointment of the monitor follows a lengthy and ongoing investigation by the Local Government Investigations and Compliance Inspectorate (Inspectorate), which provides advice to the Minister in circumstances of serious governance failures.

The Inspectorate has investigated a range of allegations against individual Ararat Councillors and in relation to aspects of the Council as a whole.

The Inspectorate has raised significant concerns about aspects of the Council’s governance processes and compliance with the Local Government Act 1989.

On this basis the Minister has appointed Mr Paul Evans, a former Assistant Commissioner of Victoria Police, to monitor the Council until the local government elections scheduled for October 2012.

The Chief Municipal Inspector’s advice includes matters that are still the subject of investigation and may result in prosecutions at a later stage. Accordingly, it is not appropriate to provide details until the matters are finalised.

Local Government Victoria will work with Mr Evans in his role as Monitor.

For more information about what the Inspectorate does, visit: http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/localgovernment/Compliance-and-Complaints

For details of the Minister’s media release: http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/2890-monitor-appointed-to-ararat-rural-city-council-.html

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