Council Complaints
Complaint statistics for the July 2011 to June 2012 comparison against the July 2010 to June 2011 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 2011–12 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.
We received 1175 complaints in 2011–12, compared to 1130 in 2010–11. These complaints were spread over 125 councils. Again in 2011/12, over half of all complaints/allegations related to 21 councils, or just 14% of all general purpose councils in NSW. We did not receive any complaints about 27 councils.
The total number of complaints received this year represents a small increase over the number received last year (in the order of 3.8%).
Newcastle City Council received the most complaints. Of these, three quarters related to issues about the Laman Street fig trees.
The Division also received 64 complaints which did not specify the name of the council that the matter related to. This is a large increase on the previous year. The majority of these matters related to public land management and planning and development. Many of the issues raised in these complaints were about matters that were not related to decisions or actions of a specific local council, such as, a decision of a joint regional planning panel.
There were no formal investigations of a pecuniary interest complaint under section 462 of the Local Government Act 1993 commenced in the period. However, there was one investigation report referred to the PIDT during 2011-12.
The Pecuniary Interest and Disciplinary Tribunal determined two matters during 2011–12. One councillor was counselled for a breach of the pecuniary interest provisions of the Act. A further councillor was reprimanded.
The Pecuniary Interest and Disciplinary Tribunal determined no misbehaviour matters during 2011–12.
One matter was referred to the Tribunal for its consideration during this 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 2011–12 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 2011 to June 2012 NSW report
Below is a chart showing details of the complaints received during the July 2011 to June 2012 period by keyword
We received 1175 complaints in 2011–12, compared to 1130 in 2010–11. These complaints were spread over 125 councils. Again in 2011/12, over half of all complaints/allegations related to 21 councils, or just 14% of all general purpose councils in NSW. We did not receive any complaints about 27 councils.
The total number of complaints received this year represents a small increase over the number received last year (in the order of 3.8%).
Newcastle City Council received the most complaints. Of these, three quarters related to issues about the Laman Street fig trees.
The Division also received 64 complaints which did not specify the name of the council that the matter related to. This is a large increase on the previous year. The majority of these matters related to public land management and planning and development. Many of the issues raised in these complaints were about matters that were not related to decisions or actions of a specific local council, such as, a decision of a joint regional planning panel.
Pecuniary interest
In 2011–12 we received 53 informal allegations of breaches of the pecuniary interest provisions of the Local Government Act 1993. 6 complaints were received that met the requirements set out for a formal pecuniary interest complaint.There were no formal investigations of a pecuniary interest complaint under section 462 of the Local Government Act 1993 commenced in the period. However, there was one investigation report referred to the PIDT during 2011-12.
The Pecuniary Interest and Disciplinary Tribunal determined two matters during 2011–12. One councillor was counselled for a breach of the pecuniary interest provisions of the Act. A further councillor was reprimanded.
Councillor misbehaviour and political donation complaints
In 2011–12 we received 15 complaints alleging misbehaviour by councillors. Four formal investigations under the misbehaviour provisions were commenced during this period.The Pecuniary Interest and Disciplinary Tribunal determined no misbehaviour matters during 2011–12.
One matter was referred to the Tribunal for its consideration during this period.
Go to Top