Councillor Mark Rodda has claimed a new ICAC report "vindicates" his push for Tamworth Regional Council to develop a public register of meetings with developers.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The claim comes after state's anti-corruption body last week released a report into regulation of lobbying, access and influence in NSW.
Councillors and council officials are not regulated by the state's lobbying of government officials act, unlike state government figures.
In its report, ICAC found the local government sector "faces considerable risk of undue influence" and should be subject to the act.
In March, Cr Rodda called on the city council to create an online register of closed door meetings between senior staff and councillors with developers. The idea went to a council workshop and is likely to go to a council meeting as soon as July.
Cr Rodda said the ICAC report shows there is change in the air.
"Clearly now a higher authority, the ICAC, has through their reporting, come to the conclusion that there is problems and made recommendations about how to address it," he said.
"I've indicated that this will come one day, may not be in the near future, but it will be one day. Why not get ahead of the curve, why not get ahead of the game and be proactive in that space, and develop a register?"
Deputy Mayor Phil Betts said he agreed that local government should be transparent, open and honest - but the devil is in the details.
Read also:
The trick is how to develop a process to achieve that, that isn't unduly burdensome, or "pedantic".
"Councillors walking down the street at any time might have a dozen conversations with a dozen people and it could be mum and dad wanting a garden shed, right through to other areas, where does that line go? That's one thing that needs to be sorted out," he said.
"Council had a workshop on that, it was investigated, looking right across Australia to all local governments across Australia. And there's not a process to look at an appropriate level of reporting [anywhere in the country]."
An analysis of ICAC records by the commission revealed the scale of the problem. The analysis, which was shared in the report, showed that some 58 per cent of all lobbying-related complaints it receives relate to local councils. There were 113 current and former councils named in complaints since 2008.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark northerndailyleader.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News