Local government Inspector is ‘very much considering’ taking further action on problematic South Perth council

More drastic action to clean-up the chaos at the City of South Perth has been raised by the local government inspector after the council’s CEO and other senior staff walked off the job. Liz Ledger went on stress leave last week, just three months after agreeing to take on the role as South Perth’s chief executive officer and clean up the litany of governance and integrity issues plaguing the council. It followed a successful move by mayor Greg Milner to block the CEO from engaging independent external experts to undertake a review of the psychological risks within the dysfunctional organisation. It’s understood the city’s corporate services director Bree Websdale and governance manager Toni Fry have also taken leave following Ms Ledger’s decision. Local government inspector Tony Brown, who appointed Gale McGowan to monitor the council in February, says he is now “very much” looking at the next steps that he can take. “The monitor (Ms McGowan) is continuously tracking relationships between council members and between the council and the city’s employees,” Mr Brown said. “Active oversight is occurring from the monitor who is providing advice, guidance and support on governance and compliance matters. “I am being updated regularly by the monitor and very much considering what further direct action I can take, to address the issues at the city.” A spokesperson for the Department of Local Government described the developments at the City of South Perth as “serious” and said the inspector had appropriate powers to take action. On Wednesday night, the council held a last-minute meeting to appoint Director of Infrastructure Services, Anita Amprimo as the Acting CEO — a decision made behind closed doors. Late on Friday, a spokesperson for the city denied Ms Ledger was on stress leave and it was “personal leave” they also said Toni Fry had returned to work. Council sources have told The West Australian that Ms Ledger sent an email to all councillors, as well as the Local Government monitor, in which she raised serious concerns out the organisation and that she would be hiring Azuhr consultants to conduct a psychosocial review. Just one day later, mayor Greg Milner entered an urgent motion at the council meeting to block the CEO’s independent assessment. He had initially attempted to have the matter dealt with in secret but was unsuccessful. Mr Milner had argued Ms Ledger’s proposal would duplicate work already been conducted by Ms Gowan, and that’s why it needed to be stopped. When asked by colleagues whether interfering with the CEO’s operational decision would breach the council’s obligations under the WorkSafe Health and Safety Act, Mr Milner said he, “couldn’t possibly answer”.