Nine months on, still no answers

May 22, 2024

By Rachel Williams

There is still no end date in sight for an outcome to the Dorset Board of Inquiry.

While there is no statutory timeframe for the report to be released, those at the centre of allegations are keen to learn whether there will be any further repercussions.

The nine elected Dorset Councillors were stood down by Minister Nic Street nine months ago, in August, 2023, but Mr Street does not appear to be the one who will make any final decisions on whether any or all of the councillors will be permanently sacked.

Mr Street is on leave from Parliament to look after his mental health, leaving Acting Local Government Minister Roger Jaensch in the hot seat.

Mr Jaensch is set to be briefed on the report this week.

The Board provided its final report to the Government on April 30 and a Government Spokesperson said Mr Jaensch must now consider its recommendations.

“Acting on advice from the Office of Local Government, he has requested a briefing on the Final Report,” the spokesperson said.

“The Government must provide the Board findings and recommendations to the Council and invite submissions to be made. 

“This is an important step to ensure due process is upheld and must occur prior to the public release of the report.

“After considering submissions, the Government will formally respond to the Board of Inquiry Final Report.”

Commissioner Andrew Wardlaw said the council had not yet received the report to respond to.

No timeline has been given for the process to play out.

In some positive news for suspended Mayor Greg Howard, he was cleared of a Code of Conduct complaint submitted by Dr Vincent Teichmann.

The Local Government panel found Cr Howard had not breached the Local Government Act.

The report into the complaint, following answers given during Public Question Time at the ordinary meeting of Dorset Council on February 20, 2023, was tabled at Monday’s Council meeting.

Dr Teichmann had alleged that Cr Howard breached a number of sections of the code, including that he hadn’t made decisions free from personal bias or prejudgement; caused a reasonable person offence or embarrassment; didn’t give genuine and impartial consideration to all relevant information; didn’t indicate when he was are putting forward personal views and didn’t show respect when expressing personal views.

The panel found that Cr Howard answered questions from at least six members of the public, and some Councillors at the meeting.

“A number of clauses of the Code require a councillor to behave with respect to others, and to avoid bringing the council into disrepute by his or her actions or words,” the report said.

“The Chairperson determined that Cr Howard was not disrespectful to the questioners in answering any of the questions included in the complaint. 

“It was apparent that in some answers he did not agree with statements made by the questioner, but his expression of that disagreement was done without disrespect.”

The panel said there was no evidence that Cr Howard misrepresented any policies or decisions which had been made by the Council.

“Certainly, some statements by Cr Howard appeared controversial and likely to be personal to him… but no one could have reasonably considered that he was putting forward official council positions on these matters. 

“The Mayor was answering questions without notice as best he could in a public meeting.”

Council General Manager John Marik said the Code of Conduct complaint could cost the Council up to $10,000.