Perth Voice Interactive

VINCENT council is thinking about leaving the WA local government association.

Mayor John Carey is disappointed WALGA — the peak body for councils in WA — failed to show leadership on improving transparency in councils.

Before Christmas his motions to improve transparency in local government were roundly shot down by the vast majority of WALGA representatives from other WA councils, just days before Perth lord mayor Lisa Scaffidi was found by the CCC to have engaged in serious misconduct over travel gifts.

WA local government minister Tony Simpson agreed with Mr Carey that standards had to rise and compulsory transparency training for councillors was needed.

Mr Carey’s other suggestion—online gift registers—has since been included as a compulsory clause in the City of Perth Act that’s currently being debated.

WALGA president Lynne Craigie has said mandatory training isn’t necessary and reckons the sector is already striving for best practice.

Mr Carey says that’s not good enough.

”There are good services provided by WALGA in terms of training and discounted contractor services, but at the same time it’s my personal view that our values as a city are poles apart from the current WALGA leadership,” he told the Voice.

“I think the current leadership has become the defender of the status quo.”

WALGA membership costs Vincent $52,000 a year but he says the main issue is, “we have an organisation that we’re a member of that’s going in a different direction”.

He’s asked staff to look into the pros and cons of pulling out and councillors will aim to make a decision around May.

Nedlands council pulled out of the association in 2013, saying WALGA was effectively doing the Barnett government’s bidding on council amalgamations (which were later abandoned).

by DAVID BELL