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<\/p>\nThe “diabolical” City of Perth should be merged with its neighbouring council, a WA government minister has claimed, describing the “pettiness, infighting and immaturity” by elected members as “galling.”<\/p>\n
It comes as the local government minister flags an extraordinary wider shake-up of the entire sector, amid growing concerns over the performance of individual councils.<\/p>\n
The City of Perth was formally put on notice by the local government inspector on Tuesday evening, with the council marred by allegations of a toxic work culture and a lack of communication between councillors and staff.<\/p>\n
Inspector Tony Brown urged the council to improve its work culture and governance, flagging further action could be taken if necessary.<\/p>\n
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Tony Brown, pictured with Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley, has put the City of Perth on notice.\u00a0 (ABC News: Courtney Withers)<\/p>\n
But government minister and member for Perth John Carey was even more blunt speaking to reporters on Wednesday morning, urging the City of Perth to “do better” and suggesting it should merge with the neighbouring City of Vincent.<\/p>\n
“No wonder ratepayers are tearing out their hair \u2014 I’m over it,” he said.<\/p>\n
“The pettiness, the infighting, the immaturity by the council is galling.<\/p>\n
“People in the City of Perth have had enough \u2014 it’s diabolical.”<\/p>\n
Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley also flagged the need for a drastic shake-up, warning it was “now evident that local government needs a reset”.<\/p>\n
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Hannah Beazley has flagged major reforms to the local government sector.\u00a0 (ABC News: Courtney Withers\u00a0)<\/p>\n
“As our capital city local government, my expectation is that they provide a leading example of good governance and display exemplary conduct,” she said.<\/p>\n
“Unfortunately, this has not been the case.”‘<\/p>\n
The ABC understands City of Perth chief executive Michelle Reynolds has also been suspended.<\/p>\n
“I haven’t been advised of any specifics, of any timeframe, of any process around this suspension,” Ms Reynolds said in a statement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“The Lord Mayor hasn’t spoken to me. Nothing has been put to me.”<\/p>\n
The City of Perth and its Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds have been contacted for comment.<\/p>\n
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Bruce Reynolds is the Lord Mayor of the City of Perth.\u00a0 (ABC News: Phoebe Pin)<\/p>\n
Vincent open to merger<\/p>\n
City of Vincent Mayor Alison Xamon said her council was not opposed to a merger but had reservations about amalgamating with a dysfunctional council.<\/p>\n
“We are a very functional council. We’ve got a robust but constructive relationship with administration, a very collegial council,” she told 102.5 ABC Perth.<\/p>\n
“How do you make sure that you maintain that functionality, and don’t have the unintended consequence of \u2026 adopting some cultural norms of other councils that may not be as positive and as productive?”<\/p>\n
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Alison Xamon says the City of Vincent is open to a merger.\u00a0 (ABC News: Grace Burmas)<\/p>\n
Ms Xamon said Mr Carey had raised the prospect of a merger with her several times “behind the scenes”, but ultimately it was up to residents.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“We’re progressive, we’re open to all sorts of discussions. But we would be very much resident-led in relation to these discussions,” she said.<\/p>\n
Six councils under scrutiny<\/p>\n
Six of WA’s 137 local governments have been under intense scrutiny in the past year, with allegations of dysfunction and mismanagement.<\/p>\n
In January, the ABC revealed an external review of the City of Perth found it had rapidly descended into a workplace of psychological harm.<\/a><\/p>\n WA minister wants reforms to local council laws <\/a><\/p>\n Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley says reforms are needed to prevent local councils from quitting just a few months into the job.<\/p>\n The City of Nedlands was sacked and replaced with commissioners after turmoil, leading to an entirely new council elected in October.<\/p>\n It came after former Mayor Fiona Argyle launched an extraordinary broadside against some members of her council<\/a>, on a day when four of them resigned.<\/p>\n The regional Shire of Coolgardie narrowly avoided suspension<\/a> over financial mismanagement concerns, while the Town of Port Hedland was sacked and replaced by commissioners.<\/a><\/p>\n An official was appointed to monitor the City of South Perth earlier this month after allegations of dysfunction.<\/p>\n