Tweed Shire report card
IF the number of complaints received at the council is a measure of community satisfaction then the Tweed Shire Council is doing a great job.
According to a report to the council today, the number of formal complaints received in 2011/12 was only 47.
That equates to 1.8 complaints for every 10,000 people living in the shire.
In a separate report on the code of conduct of the council the number of complaints fell year on year from 24 complaints in 2009/10 to 4 in 2011/12.
The council received one complaint about gifts and benefits, two complaints related to conflict of interest and one complaint of improper dealings for the last financial year.
"Two of the complaints related to alleged breaches of the pecuniary interest provisions of the act and were therefore referred to the Division of Local Government," the report stated.
"In both instances the division advised there was insufficient evidence to establish a breach of the pecuniary interest provisions of the act."
When receiving the report in the council meeting today, councillor Katie Milne asked if more details on the complaints could be provided to the councillors.
"We don't know the bases of these complaints," Cr Milne said.
"(I'm asking) whether we could have a bit more clarity… even if it's confidential."
Mayor Barry Longland said it was the information could be used "vexatiously".
"I imagine the incoming council will go through training on code of conduct. Just like we did," Cr Longland said.
