Council Complaints
Complaint statistics for the July 2009 to June 2010 comparison against the July 2008 to June 2009 period.
The actual number of complaints is not necessarily an effective indicator of the seriousness of the matters raised. In some cases the council may be the subject of campaigns, usually about a single controversial issue. This can distort the council’s reputation if there is in fact no maladministration on the council’s part and the issues relate more to concerns about a particular decision. We generally will not investigate such issues, provided the council’s decision is lawful and proper processes are followed.
Click on the Council name to see a breakdown of the complaints for the individual councils for the 2009–10 financial year.
Please note complaints not assigned to a council appear at the bottom of the list. If a council does not appear on the list, this indicates no complaints were received.
The total number of complaints received this year represents a notable decrease over the number received last year (in the order of 14.8%).
Strathfield Municipal Council received the most complaints. This was a quadruple increase on the previous year. The majority of complaints were made by one complainant. Predominantly the complaints related to councillor and staff misconduct concerns.
The Division also received 26 complaints which did not specify the name of the council that the matter related to.
There was 1 formal investigation of a pecuniary interest complaint under section 462 of the Local Government Act 1993 commenced in the period.
The Pecuniary Interest and Disciplinary Tribunal determined no matters during 2009–10.
The Pecuniary Interest and Disciplinary Tribunal determined 1 misbehaviour matter during 2009–10.
The actual number of complaints is not necessarily an effective indicator of the seriousness of the matters raised. In some cases the council may be the subject of campaigns, usually about a single controversial issue. This can distort the council’s reputation if there is in fact no maladministration on the council’s part and the issues relate more to concerns about a particular decision. We generally will not investigate such issues, provided the council’s decision is lawful and proper processes are followed.
Click on the Council name to see a breakdown of the complaints for the individual councils for the 2009–10 financial year.
Please note complaints not assigned to a council appear at the bottom of the list. If a council does not appear on the list, this indicates no complaints were received.
July 2009 to June 2010 NSW report
We received 1029 complaints in 2009–10, compared to 1208 in 2008–09. These complaints were spread over 123 councils. Over half of all complaints/allegations related to 24 councils, or just 16% of all general purpose councils in NSW. We did not receive any complaints about 29 councils.The total number of complaints received this year represents a notable decrease over the number received last year (in the order of 14.8%).
Strathfield Municipal Council received the most complaints. This was a quadruple increase on the previous year. The majority of complaints were made by one complainant. Predominantly the complaints related to councillor and staff misconduct concerns.
The Division also received 26 complaints which did not specify the name of the council that the matter related to.
Pecuniary interest
In 2009–10 we received 47 informal allegations of breaches of the pecuniary interest provisions of the Local Government Act 1993. 12 complaints were received that met the requirements set out for a formal pecuniary interest complaint.There was 1 formal investigation of a pecuniary interest complaint under section 462 of the Local Government Act 1993 commenced in the period.
The Pecuniary Interest and Disciplinary Tribunal determined no matters during 2009–10.
Councillor misbehaviour and political donation complaints
In 2009–10 we received 21 complaints alleging misbehaviour by councillors.The Pecuniary Interest and Disciplinary Tribunal determined 1 misbehaviour matter during 2009–10.
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