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The Considerable Challenge

Anyone with an eye to matters of governance would be forgiven for thinking that many Boards are becoming or have become stuck in a “Rhythm of Reluctance”.

How else to describe the volume and consistency of missteps, lack of both understanding and action and unfortunately, too often, disasters, that occur on their watch.

With both internal as well as external pressures at play, the drive to establish and execute a fit for purpose Executive remuneration strategy, supportive of the organisation’s strategy, is now critical.

Another Day, Another Report

The Commission of Inquiry (COI) Report into Moira Shire Council, ordered by the Local Government Minister in October 2022, was tabled on 7 March 2023 in the Victorian Parliament.

This COI arose from widespread cultural and governance issues at the Council, which included serious concerns regarding OH&S matters as well as industrial practices.

In the Report’s Executive Summary there are comments worth raising as a reminder of what can and does actually happen.

Little Drops of Water

The Report states “Governance failures are rarely isolated. The governance of Moira Shire Council has been steadily eroding over most of the last decade.”

Then in the Findings section, the Report indicated that “The Council failed to manage the performance of the Chief Executive Officer.

It found governance of the counci