Victorian Minister for Local Government, Jeanette Powell, has announced the appointment of an Inspector of Municipal Administration to oversee the struggling Wangaratta Rural City Council.

“I have appointed an Inspector of Municipal Administration to deal with a myriad of problems that have undermined the operation of the Wangaratta Council,” Mrs Powell said.

“It’s important that the problems at Wangaratta Council are resolved in an expeditious manner and that the elected councillors and the council administration function effectively in the interests of the Wangaratta community.”

Ms Powell has appointed Peter Stephenson to the role of Inspector for the next three months, and will report directly to the Minister.

A Councillor Conduct Panel has also been convened to deal with alleged misconduct by a councillor.  

The Council has engaged a consultant to examine allegations that a councillor was bullied by the CEO.  A Probity Auditor, Mr Bill Scales, has been appointed to oversee this inquiry.

The Council has engaged an independent industrial relations consultant to assess a number of staff complaints that they have been bullied by a councillor.