By Oliver Lees
Hume Councillor Trevor Dance has been directed not to attend the next two council meetings and must apologise to council after an arbiter found he breached the Councillor Code of Conduct.
Eleven allegations of breaches of Hume’s Councillor Code of Conduct were investigated as part of an internal arbitration process into the conduct of Cr Dance.
According to the arbiter’s report, Cr Dance contravened eight clauses of the Councillor Code of Conduct.
The process was instigated by a group of councillors who were represented by Cr Carly Moore.
Cr Dance left the September 13 council meeting before the arbiter’s reports were tabled, due to a work commitment.
He declared a conflict of interest in all eight reports prior to leaving the meeting.
Cr Dance maintains he will continue to undertake council business on behalf of his constituents by attending all council meetings.
“I absolutely have not been suspended. At this point I will be attending all Council meetings,“ Cr Dance said in a statement issued to Star Weekly.
“I am still able to serve my community in that time in my usual capacity as an elected Councillor.“
The internal arbitration process cost ratepayers $16,500, not including the cost of staff time and internal room hire costs.
“The costs were absolutely not provided to me and I was appalled to learn of the unacceptably high expense to Council for the arbiter’s services,“ Cr Dance said.
The arbiter’s report noted that Cr Dance did not take part in hearings relating to the arbitration process.
However Cr Dance told Star Weekly he offered to participate virtually.
“I never refused to participate as has been stated and followed all of the arbiter directions “ he said.
“I was never provided with a COVID Safe Plan and I had medical reasons that were provided.
“I confirmed with the arbiter that I was more than happy to participate and would attend hearings virtually at any time.“
Cr Dance said the matter was now the subject of a Victorian Human Rights Commission submission.
