'Junket' comments were code breach

Public comments by a councillor that a weekend workshop was a "junket" have been found to be contrary to Gosford Council's code of conduct.

This was one of the findings of the council-appointed conduct reviewer investigating allegations of misconduct by Cr Peter Freewater, according to a staff report to Gosford Council.

The reviewer found that Cr Freewater was in breach of the code when he told the media that a $8000 weekend workshop for councillors and senior management at Rafferty's Resort, Lake Macquarie, were a "junket, completely unnecessary and a waste of ratepayers' money"

Another comment that the "Council are arrogant. They're unbelievable." was also found to be in breach of the code.

The staff report did not disclose the full detail of the allegations made against Cr Freewater or the full text of the reviewer's findings.

The conduct reviewer is reported as stating that Cr Freewater's comments about the weekend workshop were "in serious breach of clause 4.8 and 6.3 of the code in that the comments do not treat others with respect at all times".

"I further find that the comments, so far as they refer to senior staff, to be in breach of clause 9.7(f) in that the comments make personal attacks on council staff in a public forum."

Council staff would not release the name of the reviewer, but he is believed to be Gosford solicitor Mr Peter Reynolds.

While the reviewer did not make any recommendations of sanctions, he said: "The number of breaches of the code of conduct make the complained about actions by Cr Freewater to be serious in nature."

The council decided to censure Cr Freewater for misbehaviour and refer the matter to the Director-General of Local Government for his suspension.

He was also required to make apologies at a council meeting and in media advertisements.

According to the council resolution, Cr Freewater had breached six clauses of the code.

Gosford Council Agenda COM.17, 6 Sep 2011 Gosford Council Media, 6 Sep 2011 Kaitlin Watts, 6 Sep 2011 Media Statement, 9 Sep 2011 Cr Peter Freewater