The cost of code of conduct investigations against Dubbo Regional councillors has exceeded $23,000 this financial year - in figures released to the Daily Liberal on July 8.
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It's already almost half the cost of last financial year's total sum.
Furthermore, the price tag for the independent investigator looking into Dubbo Regional Council's handling of those code of conduct complaints is more than $54,000.
DRC CEO Murray Wood confirmed code breach allegations had cost ratepayers:
- $57,420 for the 2020 / 2021 financial year
- $23,015 for the current 2021 / 2022 financial year
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In the May ordinary council meeting, it was revealed there were 23 code of conduct complaints received since March. Ten of those complaints were referred to council's independent investigators for preliminary review.
From the period of September 2017 to 24 March 2021, council received 28 code of conduct complaints, which have since been completed.
Pinnacle Integrity was appointed in June to investigate council's complaints handling processes, which is separate to any investigation into code of conduct breach complaints.
Mr Wood confirmed that a "purchase order of $54,545 has been approved for the independent investigator".
The report by Pinnacle Integrity is expected to be tabled at the July 26 ordinary meeting.
It comes after it was revealed the investigation into allegations of code breaches by former Mayor Ben Shields was deemed 'completed', because he stood down from office.
"If someone is no longer a councillor, the Dubbo Regional Council Code of Conduct and associated procedures no longer apply," Mr Wood confirmed.
"There are ongoing investigations and there are other processes available under the Local Government Act."
Those processes include a provision in the Local Government Act which states;
- The Departmental Chief Executive may conduct an investigation for the purpose of determining whether a former councillor engaged in misconduct during the period in which the former councillor was a councillor.
- The Departmental Chief Executive may before, during or after an investigation into an allegation of misconduct by a former councillor decide to refer the matter to the Civil and Administrative Tribunal for consideration.
It's understood that a number of code of conduct complaints remain active, but DRC is not able to reveal what number of complaints are active, or the results of any finalised investigations.
Mr Shields has previously denied all allegations.
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