The Editor has received correspondence from the Acting General Manager of GISC which is included as an addendum to this report for clarity and transparency.
At 8:45 am, prior to the council meeting, former Councillor Mrs Lara Gresham addressed Council in a Public Forum. Members of the public are allowed to address Councillors for 5 minutes prior to the meeting, following an application to Council. Mrs Gresham spoke against item 7.6 Psychosocial Safety and Wellbeing Framework for Councillors. The basic tenet of Mrs Gresham’s address was that the Workplace Health and Safety Act states, categorically, that it does not apply to Councillors and so it should not be used to justify the proposed Framework, or be used as a foundation for it.
The Mayor rose to her feet and stated that Mrs Gresham was making inflammatory and inappropriate comments and that she was in violation of Council’s Code of Conduct. The Mayor required an apology, which was immediately forthcoming from Mrs Gresham. The Mayor stopped Mrs Gresham on a second, third and fourth occasion during her address, again citing unnecessary and inflammatory comments and requiring an apology. Each time Mrs Gresham immediately offered an apology.
The item was deferred within the Ordinary Council Meeting, with the acting general manager maintaining that the framework required additional work before it should be put to council.
The key updates and decisions from this month’s Council Meeting:
Anne Vosper, officially took her Oath of Affirmation as our newest Councillor.
Powerhouse Open Day Over 300 people visited the Glen Innes Powerhouse last Saturday, enjoying activities and historic displays – a wonderful celebration of our local heritage. A full story has been printed in GIN at https://gleninnesnews.com.au/2025/09/wow-thats-an-experience-that-must-be-preserved/
Financial Update “The unrestricted cash position reported as at 31 August 2025 is positive $5.219 million.” – https://gleninnessevern.infocouncil.biz/Open/2025/09/CO_25092025_AGN_1167.PDF. The business paper confirms that this figure includes the $5M loan from the NAB. “The unrestricted cash position reported as at 31 July 2025 is positive $283k”. (https://gleninnessevern.infocouncil.biz/Open/2025/08/CO_28082025_AGN_1166.PDF)
Policy Update Council has adopted a revised Social Media Policy, offering clearer guidance for staff, councillors, and the community, with an emphasis on wellbeing and respectful communication. There has been a considerable “tightening” of the previous Social Media Policy
Have Your Say Two important documents will go on public exhibition from next week for 28 days:
- Updated Code of Meeting Practice mandated by the Office of Local Government for Councils in NSW
- Revised Financial Hardship and Debt Recovery Policies which may be further updated should the SRV be approved
Feedback can be left via: haveyoursay.gisc.nsw.gov.au
Road Improvements The 6km Wycliffe Road re-sheeting project is now complete, improving safety and access for Emmaville residents.
Advocacy for the Region Council endorsed seven motions for the upcoming NSW Local Government Conference, covering:
- Councillor remuneration
- Place-based community funding
- Visitor economy and destination management
- Economic development
- Housing supply and land availability
- Federal Assistance Grants
- A Biochar Industry Roadmap
Meeting dates and times a report was tabled listing dates and commencement in the forthcoming year. Cr Andrew Parson foreshadowed a motion that meetings should be held at 6:00pm, as was the practice in numerous other NSW councils. Cr Parsons’ reasoning was that this would enable employees and business owners to stand for public office. It was again decided that meetings would commence at 9:00 am.
ADDENDUM
Acting General Manager “Regarding the comments made in the Glen Innes News published 25th September 2025, relating to the Public Forum where Mrs Gresham spoke against item 7.6 on Council’s agenda Psychosocial Safety. It should be noted that the Draft Psychosocial Safety and Wellbeing Framework that was the basis for Mrs Gresham’s speech at the Public Forum was an early draft and not the final document and has not yet been adopted by Council.”
Mrs Gresham’s comment: “….council put a report in the business paper with a recommendation to adopt the framework when IT WAS KNOWN the draft was not ready. I have no reason to assume they would have deferred the vote had I not spoken at the public forum. No one has any reason to assume that. If it really wasn’t ready to see the light of day, there should have been NO report on it in the business paper.”
Acting General Manager Comment: “Glen Innes Severn Council as a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU), and its Officers are required to provide a safe and healthy working environment for all workers, and other persons as far as reasonably practicable. While elected members of a government authority are not considered to be a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) by the NSW WHS Act, Councillors are considered to be “workers” under the Act, and therefore Councillors do have duties under the WHS Act.
Acting General Manager Comment: Council also requests the following corrections to the Glen Innes News report of the Public Forum proceedings:
- The article incorrectly reported that a reference was made to the Code of Conduct during the address. No such reference was made.
- It was also reported that the matter was raised four times. The matter was raised three times only.
For accuracy, Council notes that the Mayor addressed Mrs Gresham at the meeting, stating:
“You are engaging in conduct that is:
– not aligned with Council codes, policies and procedures
– constitutes disorderly conduct
– publicly alleging breaches of the Council’s Code of Conduct
– making defamatory statements.
I therefore ask you to refrain from inappropriate behaviour and to withdraw and unreservedly apologise for any inappropriate comments.”
