The General Manager and Councilors Gosford Council

This is a formal complaint.

The evidence of corrupt activity that I hold seems to be of little or no relevance to councilors some of whom are card carrying members of Liberal and Labor parties. Is that because the corruption issues I raise dont have huge amounts of money changing hands compared to Liverpool and Rockdale that you think it is not relevant?

Or that the involvement of Liberal and Labor political forces provides some sort of umbrella to the documented corrupt dealings. Honest ratepayers are sick of politics covering up corruption.

The community knows that decisions of council are political and the law only needs to be followed to allow the decision to be what ever the elected representatives wish. I know that, that is why I told the Mayor there will be political consequences what ever the decision.

The correspondence I hold from Council Management that says there was no intention to mislead, acknowledges the misrepresentations that council accommodated.  The obvious breach of Regulation 2000 section 283 of the EPAA 79 that council employees and management told me they couldnt do anything about, the false instruments that have misled the consent Authority and the community.

These issues are important, as proper compliance insures the good government mentioned in Sections 51 and 52 our Constitution is attained. 

Management has indicated to John Brogden that council complied with one section of the EPAA. I believe compliance means the full compliance in the proper application of the EPAA 79. Not bits and pieces to suit.            

The letter from Mayor Bell mentions council may have overlooked requirements; I would have thought that overlooking the law was to be avoided. I have noticed a better application of the law since I raised my voice. But the people want the past corruption and lack of due diligence on the part of councilors and management to be public knowledge.

The in camera inquiry conducted by those I accuse is farcical. You should be ashamed to have put it on paper in the Council Agenda. I also have a concern based on the talk I had with Alan Ford on Wednesday 21 that council has relied on an insurance policy council holds, to protect ratepayers in their involvement with businesses conducting activity on the footway.

 If he was referring to a public risk policy, I believe that allowing business to operate on the foot way would void that policy.

As it is some weeks now since I raised concerns with council and the Department of Local Government.

 I am making a formal complaint that I believe council has continued to allow the ratepayers to be at risk, because the Footway leasing-outdoor eating policy-City of Gosford, the responsibility of Corporate and Community Services is still not being properly enforced.

Page 8 entry 6.4.  Lease Conditions. The applicant must comply with the conditions set out in the lease and this policy. The lease will be for a period of five (5) years. No options can be granted.

I expect a response from council that will explain why the policy has been ignored throughout the entire City of Gosford, over the past years and continues to be ignored as of this date Friday 30/8/2002.

I note that the director of corporate and community services told me We can fix it during our discussion after council meeting on Tue night 27/8/22. I would consider the proper application and enforcement of the policy is whats needed. And a written answer to my formal inquiry of last month.

Edward James      

THE   FACTORY

P.O. Box 024

UMINA      2257

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