SHIRE of Gingin chief executive officer Scott Wildgoose, who resigned today, is the third to leave the role in the past eight years.
Mr Wildgoose was placed on leave while a workplace investigation was carried out following a decision at a special council meeting on Thursday, February26.
“The workplace investigation process was managed independently and in accordance with the shire’s governance and employment obligations,” the shire said.
“As the matter relates to employment matters, there are legal and privacy requirements that limit what can be publicly shared.”
Today in its statement the shire said James Bayliss, who is the son-in-law of former president Wayne Fewster, would continue in the role of acting chief executive officer.
On July 19, 2024 the shire announced Mr Wildgoose’s appointment for a term of three years starting on October 21 with Aaron Cook staying on as acting CEO until then.
At that time it was also stated Mr Cook would fill acting chief executive officer role when the new CEO went on leave for an already booked holiday at the end of the year.
Mr Cook’s resignation was announced on March 6, 2024.
Following his resignation Yanchep News Online contacted the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC), Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley’s office and the shire after residents and ratepayers said they had been raising issues and complaints about the shire for some time while some of the losing candidates in the 2023 local government election said they had met with a DLGSC senior investigations officer.
DLGSC, Ms Beazley’s office and the shire all said they were unable to comment due to WA Local Government Act confidentiality obligations.
DLGSC says it can’t say whether the Shire of Gingin is being investigated, March 16, 2024 reported Yanchep News Online also asked questions about whether the department had received complaints about Mr Cook and the shire’s purchase of Lot 7 Dewar Rd, Gingin for future sporting land.
This was amidst concern then president Wayne Fewster had taken part in meetings and negotiations related to the purchase when he should have disclosed any conflicts of interest.
Council minutes showed the potential purchase of Lot 7 Dewar Rd was an item at the September 19, 2023 council meeting where the councillors agreed to keep the resolution confidential until negotiations were complete.
On March 24, 2024 in Landgate document shows Lot 7 Dewar Rd transfer details, Yanchep News Online reported the document showed the transfer of the Granville lot from Glenn F Rule – a relative of a former councillor, who did not stand for re-election in October 2023 – was lodged on January 29 after the contract was signed on December 12.
On July 11, 2024 a DLGSC spokesman said it had no current matters for investigation in the shire and that it did not make comments on investigations that had been concluded.
“The DLGSC interacts with local governments on an ongoing basis in its role to regularly monitor the sector and provide oversight and support,’’ the spokesman said.
“The department will continue to assist the Shire of Gingin as required.’’
On October 24, 2024, the shire held a special meeting of council to elect a new shire president after then councillor Fewster’s resignation.
In Gingin chief executive resigns, January 13, 2018 Yanchep News Online reported the shire had advertised for a new chief executive officer after the resignation of Jeremy Edwards, who had held the position for five years.
The 2018 advertisement said the chief executive position on offer was a performance-based three-year contract with a Band three remuneration package of between $156,356 and $256,711 set by the Salaries and Allowances Tribunal.
