That report followed Mr Brown’s appointment of former Kwinana mayor Carol Adams as a monitor to oversee the council and encourage “greater accountability and appropriate decision-making”.<\/p>\n
What’s going wrong inside the City of Perth?<\/a><\/p>\n It’s been labelled “dysfunctional” and “diabolical”. What does the lord mayor have to say about the embattled City of Perth?<\/p>\n Mr Brown said he had presented the city with the monitor’s findings, as well as 12 actions that “focus on the council working together better and their governance processes”.<\/p>\n He did not elaborate on the actions, or the monitor’s findings.<\/p>\n Working together<\/p>\n The inquiry would be the first held by the inspector under a new regime that places councils under significantly more scrutiny than in the past.<\/p>\n The final report of that inquiry can recommend the council, or individual members, be suspended or dismissed, but it would be up to the local government minister to make that decision.<\/p>\n Tony Brown says the City of Perth must set an example for governance. (ABC News: Keane Bourke)<\/p>\n Mr Brown said the council had advised him it would work cooperatively with investigators.<\/p>\n “The City of Perth is the flagship local government of Western Australia, so it needs to be the leader in governance,” he said.<\/p>\n “I don’t think it’s there at the moment, so we’re going to work through that and we want the city to be able to return to providing good governance for its community.”<\/p>\n In a statement, Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds said he welcomed the inquiry and had always supported independent oversight.<\/p>\n “Importantly, the Inspector noted the council has the inherent institutional capacity to perform effectively. That is an important foundation to build upon,” he wrote.<\/p>\n “We welcome the inquiry as an opportunity for the matters raised to be independently examined, the facts to be established and, where required, clear pathways for action and improvement to be identified.”<\/p>\n Mr Reynolds said the council’s focus remained on “delivering for the people, businesses and visitors who rely on the city every day” and that he believed it would emerge stronger from the process.<\/p>\n ‘Conflict spiral’<\/p>\n Problems began emerging in late November, when the City of Perth’s acting CEO resigned after labelling an attempt by Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds to order a workplace culture review unlawful.<\/a><\/p>\n Mr Reynolds later backed down on those plans and announced he would ask the inspector to review the city’s culture<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n City of Perth Council will be investigated. (ABC News: Courtney Withers)<\/p>\n Less than two months later, the leaked report made 18 recommendations, which the mayor said he supported.<\/p>\n The report found relations between the CEO and Lord Mayor were in a “conflict spiral”, which required “immediate intervention”.<\/p>\n Mr Reynolds said at the time the council could “absolutely” get its house in order.<\/p>\n Historical problems<\/p>\n The City of Perth has run into problems before.<\/p>\n In 2018, the entire council was stood down after years of scandal and infighting<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Tony](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/0ac86a70df9379c227f5e897fbdc37c2.jpeg\")
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