Public to be briefed on details of independent Newcastle council probe

The Advertiser

08-05-2025

RESIDENTS will get their first look at findings from a City of Newcastle review tonight.
A public briefing is being held on the independent inquiry into the council's policies, procedures, and processes which was designed to restore public trust and confidence in the council.
The review was a key pillar of Independent lord mayor Cr Ross Kerridge's election campaign, which promised a "thorough, forensic investigation into the Scott Neylon/Jeremy Bath/Jason Sivo letters saga" which has beleaguered the council and community since the Newcastle Herald launched its investigation into the letter to the editor writing campaign over a year ago.
A City of Newcastle (CN) code of conduct investigation carried out by external consultant Pinnacle Integrity found there was "insufficient evidence" that Mr Bath was involved in a misleading letter-writing campaign under his best mate Scott Neylon's name, or that he passed confidential information to his friend of 25 years, who has lived in Japan for decades.
Only one of 19 letters submitted to the Herald over nine years was examined and the investigation process drew wide criticism from the community.
Three months into the job and with no review yet pitched from Cr Kerridge, Liberal deputy lord mayor Callum Pull put forward his own motion in December 2024 calling for an independent probe into the council's policies, processes and procedures.
Despite Cr Kerridge's attempt to postpone the decision until after the Christmas break, councillors forged ahead after arguing the continued threat of an investigation would be bad for staff morale and the council's reputation.
The first public indication that Davidson had been approached about the review was in an "executive comment" report provided to councillors alongside Cr Pull's motion.
The report said Davidson had been approached to understand the cost of a proposed independent review.
Davidson was already involved with City of Newcastle, undertaking a benchmarking exercise to see how Newcastle council stacked up against other similar sized councils in NSW, Victoria and Queensland.
The exercise was designed to look at how Newcastle council compared when it came to debt, grant revenue and procurement, including value for money.
The executive report provided to councillors said that "familiarity" ensured a discounted total cost if Davidson undertook the review.
The report said Davidson predicted the review would take eight weeks, starting January, and cost in the vicinity of $70,000 plus travel costs.
"A $20,000 discount to this quote has been offered on the basis of the existing analysis of CN already undertaken as part of the benchmarking process," the report said.
The review is being undertaken by Davidson Business Advisory, a consulting firm that is already undertaking a benchmarking exercise of the council's expenditure and operational performance.
The Herald understands former Brisbane Council chief executive Colin Jensen, and former Melbourne City Council chief executive Justin Hanney are at the helm of the review.
RESIDENTS will get their first look at findings from a City of Newcastle review tonight.
A public briefing is being held on the independent inquiry into the council's policies, procedures, and processes which was designed to restore public trust and confidence in the council.
The review was a key pillar of Independent lord mayor Cr Ross Kerridge's election campaign, which promised a "thorough, forensic investigation into the Scott Neylon/Jeremy Bath/Jason Sivo letters saga" which has beleaguered the council and community since the Newcastle Herald launched its investigation into the letter to the editor writing campaign over a year ago.
A City of Newcastle (CN) code of conduct investigation carried out by external consultant Pinnacle Integrity found there was "insufficient evidence" that Mr Bath was involved in a misleading letter-writing campaign under his best mate Scott Neylon's name, or that he passed confidential information to his friend of 25 years, who has lived in Japan for decades.
Only one of 19 letters submitted to the Herald over nine years was examined and the investigation process drew wide criticism from the community.
Three months into the job and with no review yet pitched from Cr Kerridge, Liberal deputy lord mayor Callum Pull put forward his own motion in December 2024 calling for an independent probe into the council's policies, processes and procedures.
Despite Cr Kerridge's attempt to postpone the decision until after the Christmas break, councillors forged ahead after arguing the continued threat of an investigation would be bad for staff morale and the council's reputation.
The first public indication that Davidson had been approached about the review was in an "executive comment" report provided to councillors alongside Cr Pull's motion.
The report said Davidson had been approached to understand the cost of a proposed independent review.
Davidson was already involved with City of Newcastle, undertaking a benchmarking exercise to see how Newcastle council stacked up against other similar sized councils in NSW, Victoria and Queensland.
The exercise was designed to look at how Newcastle council compared when it came to debt, grant revenue and procurement, including value for money.
The executive report provided to councillors said that "familiarity" ensured a discounted total cost if Davidson undertook the review.
The report said Davidson predicted the review would take eight weeks, starting January, and cost in the vicinity of $70,000 plus travel costs.
"A $20,000 discount to this quote has been offered on the basis of the existing analysis of CN already undertaken as part of the benchmarking process," the report said.
The review is being undertaken by Davidson Business Advisory, a consulting firm that is already undertaking a benchmarking exercise of the council's expenditure and operational performance.
The Herald understands former Brisbane Council chief executive Colin Jensen, and former Melbourne City Council chief executive Justin Hanney are at the helm of the review.
RESIDENTS will get their first look at findings from a City of Newcastle review tonight.
A public briefing is being held on the independent inquiry into the council's policies, procedures, and processes which was designed to restore public trust and confidence in the council.
The review was a key pillar of Independent lord mayor Cr Ross Kerridge's election campaign, which promised a "thorough, forensic investigation into the Scott Neylon/Jeremy Bath/Jason Sivo letters saga" which has beleaguered the council and community since the Newcastle Herald launched its investigation into the letter to the editor writing campaign over a year ago.
A City of Newcastle (CN) code of conduct investigation carried out by external consultant Pinnacle Integrity found there was "insufficient evidence" that Mr Bath was involved in a misleading letter-writing campaign under his best mate Scott Neylon's name, or that he passed confidential information to his friend of 25 years, who has lived in Japan for decades.
Only one of 19 letters submitted to the Herald over nine years was examined and the investigation process drew wide criticism from the community.
Three months into the job and with no review yet pitched from Cr Kerridge, Liberal deputy lord mayor Callum Pull put forward his own motion in December 2024 calling for an independent probe into the council's policies, processes and procedures.
Despite Cr Kerridge's attempt to postpone the decision until after the Christmas break, councillors forged ahead after arguing the continued threat of an investigation would be bad for staff morale and the council's reputation.
The first public indication that Davidson had been approached about the review was in an "executive comment" report provided to councillors alongside Cr Pull's motion.
The report said Davidson had been approached to understand the cost of a proposed independent review.
Davidson was already involved with City of Newcastle, undertaking a benchmarking exercise to see how Newcastle council stacked up against other similar sized councils in NSW, Victoria and Queensland.
The exercise was designed to look at how Newcastle council compared when it came to debt, grant revenue and procurement, including value for money.
The executive report provided to councillors said that "familiarity" ensured a discounted total cost if Davidson undertook the review.
The report said Davidson predicted the review would take eight weeks, starting January, and cost in the vicinity of $70,000 plus travel costs.
"A $20,000 discount to this quote has been offered on the basis of the existing analysis of CN already undertaken as part of the benchmarking process," the report said.
The review is being undertaken by Davidson Business Advisory, a consulting firm that is already undertaking a benchmarking exercise of the council's expenditure and operational performance.
The Herald understands former Brisbane Council chief executive Colin Jensen, and former Melbourne City Council chief executive Justin Hanney are at the helm of the review.
RESIDENTS will get their first look at findings from a City of Newcastle review tonight.
A public briefing is being held on the independent inquiry into the council's policies, procedures, and processes which was designed to restore public trust and confidence in the council.
The review was a key pillar of Independent lord mayor Cr Ross Kerridge's election campaign, which promised a "thorough, forensic investigation into the Scott Neylon/Jeremy Bath/Jason Sivo letters saga" which has beleaguered the council and community since the Newcastle Herald launched its investigation into the letter to the editor writing campaign over a year ago.
A City of Newcastle (CN) code of conduct investigation carried out by external consultant Pinnacle Integrity found there was "insufficient evidence" that Mr Bath was involved in a misleading letter-writing campaign under his best mate Scott Neylon's name, or that he passed confidential information to his friend of 25 years, who has lived in Japan for decades.
Only one of 19 letters submitted to the Herald over nine years was examined and the investigation process drew wide criticism from the community.
Three months into the job and with no review yet pitched from Cr Kerridge, Liberal deputy lord mayor Callum Pull put forward his own motion in December 2024 calling for an independent probe into the council's policies, processes and procedures.
Despite Cr Kerridge's attempt to postpone the decision until after the Christmas break, councillors forged ahead after arguing the continued threat of an investigation would be bad for staff morale and the council's reputation.
The first public indication that Davidson had been approached about the review was in an "executive comment" report provided to councillors alongside Cr Pull's motion.
The report said Davidson had been approached to understand the cost of a proposed independent review.
Davidson was already involved with City of Newcastle, undertaking a benchmarking exercise to see how Newcastle council stacked up against other similar sized councils in NSW, Victoria and Queensland.
The exercise was designed to look at how Newcastle council compared when it came to debt, grant revenue and procurement, including value for money.
The executive report provided to councillors said that "familiarity" ensured a discounted total cost if Davidson undertook the review.
The report said Davidson predicted the review would take eight weeks, starting January, and cost in the vicinity of $70,000 plus travel costs.
"A $20,000 discount to this quote has been offered on the basis of the existing analysis of CN already undertaken as part of the benchmarking process," the report said.
The review is being undertaken by Davidson Business Advisory, a consulting firm that is already undertaking a benchmarking exercise of the council's expenditure and operational performance.
The Herald understands former Brisbane Council chief executive Colin Jensen, and former Melbourne City Council chief executive Justin Hanney are at the helm of the review.