Perth Voice Interactive

GARY STEVENSON has been sacked as CEO at Perth city council, just three years after ratepayers were told he was “head and shoulders” above other candidates for the job.

The chief executive was terminated Wednesday morning by a unanimous vote of lord mayor Lisa Scaffidi and councillors, despite having almost two years remaining on his five-year contract. The decision is likely to lead to a sizeable payout.

In a media statement the council said it wanted to “set a new direction”.

Mr Stevenson has been at the helm of the council during the tumultuous mergers process — eventually abandoned by the Barnett government — and through the corruption and crime commission’s expenses investigation and misconduct findings into the lord mayor.

The Voice understands that in the wake of the CCC’s probe into Ms Scaffidi, Mr Stevenson referred actions of other elected members onto the commission — as he is required to do — because those actions may have led to similar misconduct breaches. Those matters are still being investigated.

Ms Scaffidi — who had been a member of the three-member panel that had recommended Mr Stevenson’s appointment— told journalists the CEO’s termination was unrelated to her issues with the CCC.

“The issue is completely mutually exclusive or separate to that issue, not related, and I think that’s confirmed in the unanimity of the decision,” the ABC reported her saying.

Planning director Martin Mileham is acting CEO.

by DAVID BELL