Council investigation under review

PLANS to investigate theft allegations against a Casey councillor have been deferred, but the matter could soon be put back on the council agenda.
Casey Council recently formed a subcommittee to investigate claims that a councillor stole alcohol and other refreshments from the councillors’ rooms at the municipal office in Narre Warren.
As reported in the News (23 February), the committee comprises mayor Kevin Bradford, deputy mayor Rob Wilson, CEO Mike Tyler and Casey manager of corporate services Steve Dalton and was set up to review the incident and consider the operation and use of facilities in councillors’ rooms.
At last Tuesday’s council meeting an in-camera session moved that the investigation be deferred until the council received the findings of another investigation into whether Cr Paul Richardson had breached the Local Government Act by releasing confidential information to the media.
However, following Tuesday’s meeting and decision to defer the investigation, Cr Richardson has submitted a rescission motion, seeking to overturn moves to place the latest investigation on hold and instead deal with the allegations against his council colleague immediately.
This week mayor Kevin Bradford confirmed the investigation involved an amount of unaccounted-for refreshments that included both soft drink and alcohol.
The committee will determine if the councillor has breached the Local Government Act and whether police need to be notified.
The matter will be discussed again at next Tuesday’s council meeting.