WHITTLESEA: ‘You Need To Step Away’, CEO told
• ‘There is some evidence that the CEO himself may have struggled with the boundaries between the roles of politician and administrator’ – report
• Whittlesea Council boss Craig Lloyd made daily calls about Mayor McLindon
“We heard evidence from the Local Government Inspectorate that the CEO was in daily phone contact with them about his concerns, to the point where they developed concerns about the CEO’s welfare: ‘I’ve spent a lot of time on the phone with the CEO, certainly in the lead-up to Councillor McLindon being suspended, probably on a daily basis about the issues there … I spoke to Craig many times saying, ‘You need to step away. You need to take leave’. And I think other people did too.”
Evidence to the Commission of Inquiry into Whittlesea Council.
Those to give evidence were Michael Stefanovic, Chief Municipal Inspector and head of the Local Government Inspectorate, and David Walker, Manager Investigations, Local Government Inspectorate
Concerns for the welfare of $400,000-a-year Whittlesea Council Chief Executive Officer Craig Lloyd were expressed by officials following his dispute with Cr Aidan McLindon.
An official report into Whittlesea Council says that at one stage, Mr Lloyd was contacting the Local Government Inspectorate on a daily basis about matters linked to Cr McLindon.
Mr Lloyd was told by a government official to step away and take leave. Mr Lloyd, apparently, did not follow the advice.
The Commission of Inquiry, conducted by Prue Digby and Jim Gifford, says Mr Lloyd sent “numerous emails” and had “numerous conversations” with officials at the Inspectorate, Local Government Victoria and the Local Government Minister’s office.
The report said there were 14 complaints about Cr McLindon, “mostly lodged by the CEO”.
The report says that it understood that Mr Lloyd also made a report to IBAC (the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission).
Warnings
Commissionefrs Digby and Clifford said:
There is some evidence that the CEO himself may have struggled with the boundaries between the roles of politician and administrators.
Municipal Monitor Peita Duncan says that she had warnings for Mr Lloyd: “Ms Duncan stated in her evidence that the administrators had given advice to the CEO about this during the Council’s period of administration. “She said, in the context of relationships with local MPs: ‘That wasn’t our concern, I think it was more, “Craig, don’t try to play the game in the politics, because you’re not in it and you’ll end up getting burnt because it’s not your job, plus politics is politics” as we all know here, and, “You could be used here as a pawn in some sort of game.”
The report refers to “shortcomings’ of Mr Lloyd and others.
“While the Commission has serious concerns about the conduct of Mr McLindon when he was Mayor, there were also shortcomings in the performances of the Councillors, the CEO and Administration, and the Deputy Mayor that contributed to the problems at the Whittlesea City Council,” the report said.
Broke down
“The relationship between the CEO and Mr McLindon broke down very early after the election, and has been a factor in the events that have subsequently unfolded,” the report said.
“We found that, initially, the CEO’s response to Mr McLindon’s poor performance of his roles as Councillor and Mayor was professional, upholding the demarcation of their roles.
“However, we also found that the CEO was very quick to escalate what he considered were breaches of the Local Government Act 2020 or Model Councillor Code of Conduct to integrity agencies rather than try to resolve them internally and this may have exacerbated rather than calmed internal tensions.
Conflict
“The relationship between the CEO and Mr McLindon was beset by tension, conflict and a lack of mutual trust from the outset which impacted the health and wellbeing of both parties.
“They both may have benefited from the engagement of an independent mediator or support person to address their emerging relationship breakdown.
“The Commission is conscious of the difficulties that are likely to arise in the relationship between the CEO and Mr McLindon when Mr McLindon returns from suspension and that this will require particular attention.
“The CEO was proactive in taking measures and actions to ensure that the organisation was responding appropriately to health and safety issues.
Vulnerable
“In attempting to shield the organisation from the impacts of Mr McLindon’s behaviour, the CEO may have left himself vulnerable to impacts on his own health and wellbeing.
“The Commission has made recommendations to deal with difficulties that are likely to arise when Mr McLindon returns from suspension in October 2025.
“This includes requiring that Mr McLindon undertake further training, and that a Municipal Monitor be appointed to provide support to the CEO, the Councillors and Mr McLindon to develop effective working relationships, and to assist Mr McLindon in avoiding any behaviours that may create risks to health and safety.
“The CEO is appointed for no more than 5fiver years at a time on a performance based contract and can be reappointed for further terms.
“The CEO is responsible for managing the organisational structure for the Council and for employing all other Council staff.
“The CEO is responsible for ensuring that the Council is provided with policy advice, that Council decisions are implemented as well as the day-to-day management of Council’s service delivery and operations.
Support
“The CEO is also responsible for supporting the Mayor in the performance of their role.
The Commissiom report by Ms Digby and Mr Clifford said:
“While there was no specific induction session aimed at considering the qualities of a Mayor, the CEO said that he had spoken during one of the induction sessions about the kinds of strengths and characteristics that Councillors would need to think about in terms of what a Mayor should bring to the role.49 “Only two Councillors recalled the CEO providing some guidance. One of these Councillors recalled the CEO suggesting only that the Council group think about someone with experience, while the other Councillor gave evidence that the CEO had outlined the ability to act collegiately, provide leadership, understand boundaries and work as a united team as important philosophies to consider
Suspended
“On March 18, 2025, the Council also voted to write to the Minister asking that Mr McLindon be suspended, with that letter referencing the Councillors’ concerns regarding the impact of Mr McLindon’s behaviours on the CEO’s health and wellbeing.
“The view of many of the Councillors was that they had a responsibility, or duty of care, for the health, safety and wellbeing of the CEO and that the way in which they could acquit their responsibility was to call for Mr McLindon’s suspension.
“[Councillors] should have also organised appropriate external supports for the CEO and Mr McLindon to assist them in managing their relationship.”
There was a need for Councillors to have private meeting time where Mr Lloyd was not involved, the Commission report said.
Problems
“It is critically important that the Councillors hold regular Councillor only sessions and not just Councillor and CEO only sessions.
“Both the CEO and Mr McLindon told us that the relationship between the Mayor and the CEO started to become problematic almost from the time Mr McLindon was elected as Mayor..
“The CEO reported that Mr McLindon was pushing for resources to be provided to himself and other Councillors.
“The CEO advised us that Mr McLindon raised the availability of a Mayoral car multiple times, as well as asking why Councillors did not have offices.
“The CEO advised Mr McLindon that the previous Council under administration had resolved to not have a Mayoral car, and it required a resolution of Council to fund.
“We heard from another Councillor that the Mayor of the previously elected Council did have a Mayoral car.
‘Take CEO down’
“Mr McLindon reported that he felt the CEO had not discharged his obligations under the LG Act in supporting him as Mayor in the performance of his role, and stated that the CEO was ‘out to get me’.
“We also heard evidence that Mr McLindon had told one Councillor that he would ‘do everything possible to take the CEO down’, including through the media.
“Mr McLindon did not recall making this statement, stating in a submission to the Commission that he never said these words and that there is no evidence to support this allegation.
“The Commission notes that this evidence was provided to us by a member of Council staff who did not themselves witness this statement being made, and had only been informed by the Councillor who did.”