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By Belinda Nolan

26th January 2010 11:05:06 AM

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VICTORIAN councils have been forced to re-examine their own policies after the Brimbank Council scandal put other municipalities under the microscope.

After an Ombudsman’s scathing investigation sparked sweeping changes to a gamut of Brimbank’s policies and procedures last year, other councils followed suit to ensure they were above reproach.

After sensationally suspending all eleven of Brimbank’s beleaguered councillors, Local Government Minister Richard Wynne warned the government would be keeping a close eye on other councils.

“We expect the highest level of integrity and transparency from our local government councillors,” Mr Wynne told Star.

But many councils had already ducked for cover. As news of the scandal swept across the state, greater scrutiny of local government prompted some councils to review their own policies to ensure they were in line with community expectations.

At least three western suburb councils have reviewed their policies following the Ombudsman’s report into Brimbank council.

In October last year, Melton Shire councillors voted to establish a register to record details of meetings between councillors and MPs.

The register also records meetings between councillors, MP staffers and commercial representatives and was adopted as part of the Councillor Code of Conduct.

Since it was established, four councillors have recorded about 20 entries in the register.

Hobsons Bay Mayor Bill Tehan said his council had decided to review several policies following the Ombudsman’s investigations, including the Councillor Code of conduct, Gifts and Hospitality Policy and even overhaul its Councillor and Staff Interaction Protocol.

In neighbouring Maribyrnong, CEO Kerry Thompson said her council had learned from Brimbank’s example. Ms Thompson said Maribyrnong had developed an action plan to decide how it could best implement the Ombudsman’s recommendations.

The review led to the development of several new internal policies including a new civic gifts policy and a councillor access to information policy. Ms Thompson said the Brimbank saga had led to greater scrutiny of other councils.

Other councils who reviewed their policies after Brimbank include Moyne and Mildura councils. Of the 79 Victorian councils contacted by Star, at least three said they were unaffected by the Brimbank scandal and subsequent government legislation.

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