Gosford needs a Wikileaks

I keep wondering just how much longer the public is going to tolerate the present system concerning the council's Code of Conduct.

I had always assumed that we lived in a democracy and that under the Constitution all people were equal but it would seem that no one may voice a different point of view from the majority of councilors without it being an offence under the Code of Conduct.

The general manager then is able to appoint a committee of three to be judge and jury on the matter.

This surely is a conflict of interest.

The decisions should be arrived at by a panel which is completely impartial and objective.

This is impossible if anyone at Council has any influence in appointing this panel.

Gosford Council has a history of using their own judge and jury in these matters and guess who comes out as the winner every time?

This is an intolerable situation and the sooner this matter is rectified by the NSW Government, which is supposed to be reviewing this very matter before the next election, the better.

I would like to see more transparency and honesty in all workings of Council.

Why is so much business conducted behind closed doors and only open to a chosen few?

It is obvious that we need a "Wikileaks" at Gosford in order to have a more accountable Council which is responsible to their community for the decisions they make.

Their very own Code guides them on such matters as the need to act honestly and with care and diligence.

In these straightened times, therefore we could have expected Council to set a good example by attending their workshop daily, after all it was just up the coast, as all Council volunteers do for their workshops.

Again council Codes of Conduct are supposed to guide councilors on how to act so as to enhance public confidence in local government.

At the moment the public's perception of all levels of government, but particularly Local Government, couldn't get much lower.

But then, do they care?

Email, 20 Jan 2012 Margaret Lund, Woy Woy Bay