Former Bega MP Andrew Constance was appointed as Shoalhaven City Council’s new CEO earlier this week. Photo: Shoalhaven City Council.
A government review will take place after a former Liberal MP and two-time federal candidate was appointed to the position of CEO of a council on NSW’s South Coast.
Earlier this week, Andrew Constance was announced as the new CEO of Shoalhaven City Council, drawing the ire of his former opponent and current Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips, who said he “has no local government employment experience”.
Mr Constance spent 18 years as the Member for Bega before resigning to run as the Liberals’ candidate in Gilmore, but lost to Labor’s Ms Phillips when competing for the seat in the 2022 and 2025 elections.
He formally begins his new role at Shoalhaven’s council next week.
After the announcement, the NSW Office of Local Government (OLG) received a complaint about the recruitment process for the position and a spokesperson for the department confirmed enquiries would be made into the process.
“Selecting the right general manager is one of the most important decisions for any council,” the OLG spokesperson said.
“While councils are entirely responsible for the appointment of the general manager, they must take into account provisions under the Local Government Act and Guidelines issued by OLG when undertaking recruitment.
“The minister has requested that OLG use its powers under the Local Government Act to make preliminary enquiries about the recruitment processes undertaken by Shoalhaven City Council concerning the appointment of its new general manager, to ensure correct processes were followed by the council.”
The terms general manager and CEO relate to the same position in a council.
Ms Phillips welcomed the review.
“I’m pleased the minister acted so promptly to investigate the CEO appointment process,” she told Region.
“There is definitely a lot of concern out in the community.”
A spokesperson for Shoalhaven City Council said council understood a complaint had been received by the OLG regarding the recruitment process of the CEO.
“Shoalhaven City Council welcomes any review by the Office of Local Government into this robust recruitment process,” the spokesperson said.
Mr Constance was contacted for comment.
The OLG’s guidelines say while councillors make up the governing body of a council and make decisions by passing resolutions, it is the general manager’s role to implement council’s lawful decisions.
“General managers also perform other functions delegated to them by the governing body,” the guidelines say.
“The governing body monitors the implementation of its decisions through the general manager’s reports to council meetings.”
A general manager’s tasks include the day-to-day management of council, assisting the development of council’s strategic direction, determining the organisational structure, appointing and directing staff, as well as supporting councillors.
“The position of general manager is pivotal in a council,” the OLG’s guidelines say.
Original Article published by Albert McKnight on About Regional.
