CASEY councillor Kevin Bradford has been called to stand down by mayor Lorraine Wreford in the wake of an Ombudsman Victoria report tabled in State Parliament today.
Ombudsman George Brouwer concluded Cr Bradford had improperly disclosed ‘‘sensitive council information’’ in August last year to a local media outlet about a competitor’s bid to become the council’s media partner for the 2009 MRA Cranbourne GP Run.
‘‘This is apparently inconsistent with his obligations pursuant to ... the Local Government Act and the councillors’ code of conduct,’’ Mr Brouwer said in the report.
Cr Wreford said: ‘‘I have grave concerns about the conduct of Cr Bradford as reported by the Ombudsman.
‘‘I will be calling a special council meeting to consider a notice of motion that I will move about this matter.
‘‘Given the serious nature of the apparent breach of the Local Government Act, I believe that Cr Bradford should stand down immediately as a councillor until all of the relevant legal processes have been completed.’’
Cr Bradford, who strongly denies any wrongdoing, rejected the mayor’s call to stand down.
‘‘Cr Wreford is merely being her political self and it’s about time she focused on the real problems of the mismanagement of this council by certain senior management, which are now going to cost ratepayers in this city an exorbitant amount of rate increases.’’
For more on the story, read the Journal on Monday.
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