Council director dismisses complaints reports
A Gosford Council director has dismissed reports showing that the council was the second most complained about council in the 2008-2009 financial year.
The council's director of community services and organisational development, Mr Terry Thirlwell, said that it was "more than likely" that complaints were duplicated and, in any case, there was no formal investigation and no adverse findings.
Gosford Council had a total of 76 complaints made against it, according to reports from the NSW Ombudsman and the Department of Local Government.
The NSW Ombudsman received 28 complaints against Gosford Council in the last financial year, while the Department of Local Government received 48 complaints.
Minister for Local Government Ms Barbara Perry said the number of complaints received by the department made Gosford Council the second most complained about NSW council for the 2008-2009 financial year.
However, council's director of community services and organisational development Mr Terry Thirlwell said: "The report released by the Division of Local Government specifically states that the number of complaints received can be inaccurate where a specific issue attracts a large number of complaints.
"For instance, several complaints could be made against council following the approval or rejection of a specific development application," Mr Thirlwell said.
"What is also important to note when reviewing the reports is that no formal investigations were carried out as a result of any of the complaints received from the Ombudsman and the Department of Local Government, nor did any adverse findings against council eventuate.
"Gosford Council is a water, supply and sewerage organisation unlike many other councils listed in the Ombudsman's report, such as Sydney," Mr Thirlwell said.
"This means we are dealing with a lot more issues and projects.
Mr Thirlwell said that the reports were reviewed by the performance management audit unit of council and improvements would be made accordingly.
He said the numbers of complaints received by the Ombudsman had improved dramatically since the 2004-2005 financial year when it received 54 complaints, and also improved on 2007-2008 by nine complaints.
A council staff report stated that of the 48 complaints against council in the NSW Ombudsman's report, 11 were declined based on insufficient interest and trivial in nature while 17 were assessed and required only preliminary or informal investigations.
Press release, 22 Nov 2009
Barbara Perry, Minister for Local Government
Council agenda COM.46, 24 Nov 2009
Clare Graham, 25 Nov 2009
Interviewee: Terry Thirlwell, Gosford Council