Mayor Stephen Lawrence has rejected the idea that Dubbo Regional Council needs a Performance Improvement Order.
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Last week, Local Government Minister Shelly Hancock informed council of her plan to issue the PIO.
It requires each councillor to improve their behaviour and appoints an independent temporary advisor to ensure compliance.
It also calls on council to develop a system to manage email requests from councillors to council staff.
In the letter sent to council, Mrs Hancock said she felt the order was needed because of evidence of council staff feeling bullied and harassed.
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But before a decision is made, council has the opportunity to respond.
Cr Lawrence said he doesn't believe a formal statuary order is needed "because all councillors intend to comply with their obligations". He said council also intended to develop the policies that have been suggested in the draft order.
"We need to put aside, I think, any personal views we have about it and think about what the community would expect in the circumstances of the proposed order having been served and it's very much my view that the community would expect us to reflect upon the contents of it, and to respond in a responsible way that shows our commitment to those community standards," Cr Lawrence said.
The mayor said it was his view that the response to Mrs Hancock should show council supported the thrust of what she was saying, and that councillors intended to uphold their standards.
Council initially had seven days to respond to the draft PIO. However, an extra week has been requested.
In a statement on the PIO, Mrs Hancock said the NSW government was becoming involved to ensure council got "back on track" after a turbulent period.
"This proposed PIO is intended to lift councillor standards of behaviour, ensure proper processes are followed, protect health and safety of staff, provide strict supervision, and encourage community confidence in [council]," she said.
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