Former mayor Cr Steve Toms has welcomed a Glen Innes Severn Council resolution for members of the elected body to seek professional mediation to resolve their differences and work together.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
"I believe there's a breakdown of trust between councillors, which is impacting on the smooth running of council operating in the best interests of the community," Cr Toms said.
At last Thursday’s meeting, council determined to appoint an external conciliator to help address divisions, on the recommendation of a reviewer into a Code of Conduct breach.
READ ALSO:
The division is perceived to be between Mayor Carol Sparks, Deputy Mayor Cr Dianne Newman, Cr Glenn Frendon, and Cr Andrew Parsons on one hand, and former mayors Crs Steve Toms and Colin Price, and Cr Jeff Smith on the other.
Councillors could work better together, Cr Toms believed, through collaboration.
“At the moment,” he said, “there has been a sense of competition; I certainly sensed that as mayor. A much higher level of trust provides a much better opportunity for what collaboration, where people are happy enough to share their ideas, and their ideas be respected, and not taken personally."
The Glen Innes Examiner called Cr Sparks for her comment, but has received no reply at time of publication.
Consultant Emma Broomfield recommended in September that all councillors attend a facilitated mediation session, and professional development and training workshops dealing with conflict and difficult people, emotional intelligence, and working collaboratively.
Ms Broomfield, a lawyer and mediator with Locale Consulting, was asked to review a perceived breach of Council’s code of conduct, after a resident complained. (All Code of Conduct matters are confidential.)
Ms Broomfield believed the complaint was linked to divisions within Council.
While the complaint was, according to Council, “satisfactorily resolved by alternative means, and not referred for further investigation”, Ms Broomfield believed it reflected “a narrow part of a deeper dispute / conflict within the elected body”.
The complaint, Ms Broomfield argued, was only the “tip of the iceberg”. Underlying issues – including political factions within Council – had not been addressed or resolved.
At a public forum before the September council meeting where he was replaced, Cr Toms called for mediation to resolve differences.
“I appeal to our councillors to see the need for professional mediation to restore a sense of trust and balance to ensure that this council is producing the best outcomes for our community.”
Mayor Sparks, in an interview with ABC New England radio on September 28, at first opposed the idea of mediation.
“If councillors feel they need mediation,” she said, “I think first they should go and see a doctor.”
She later changed her stance: “There’s people that probably do need mediation, yes, I agree.”
General Manager Hein Basson has been in touch with the Office of Local Government and Local Government NSW to provide a list of experienced mediators.