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OMBUDSMAN INVESTIGATION ON CORPORATE CREDIT CARD USE

The Ombudsman, Wayne Lines, has today released a report finding that in the period 30 June 2015 – 30 June 2017, the City of Burnside’s policies and credit card management framework had led to maladministration under the ICAC Act 2012. The matter had been referred to the Ombudsman in October 2018.

It was found that from 2015 - 2017 the record keeping of credit card transactions were inadequate, and that internal policies failed to provide guidance to staff as to what constituted appropriate expenditure which led to a culture of misspending.

New CEO Chris Cowley welcomed the release of the findings of the investigation, acknowledging that when senior managers were made aware that the credit card framework, controls and record keeping were inadequate, new credit card management processes were put in place to tighten control over credit cards.

“It is in the public’s interest to know that this investigation has been conducted and that the issues have been addressed,” Mr Cowley said.

“I appreciate a number of these transactions would not have passed the ‘pub test’ and my commitment going forward is that transactions of this nature will not occur again,” Mr Cowley said.

“This all happened before my watch and I am determined to change the culture here,” Mr Cowley said.

“Culture is set from the top in an organisation”, Mr Cowley said. “Although no misuse has been found against staff in this investigation, I will ensure our current processes and policies are further strengthened by implementing the recommendations of the Ombudsman.”

“The Ombudsman’s views certainly align with my expectations regarding the use of Council credit cards and expenditure by staff,” Mr Cowley said.

Mr Cowley said that in 2017 senior managers had begun addressing the issues that were subject to this investigation by overhauling the credit card management system and embedding more clarification on what constituted ‘appropriate expenditure’ for credit card usage in policy.

The Ombudsman acknowledged in his report that Council has since made many improvements and changes to its credit card policy and protocols; and commended the Council for the initiatives undertaken to strengthen its accountability and transparency for credit card use and expenditure by council employees.

The changes already implemented include:

• an online credit card register that is published monthly on the council’s external website.
• more rigour around credit card spending with detailed reviews undertaken each month.
• development of dashboard reports which provide the Executive and Management Teams with information on credit card expenditure.
• monthly credit card transactions reviewed by three levels of council administration.
• monthly credit card reports available on ‘Power BI’ which allows council management and the Executive Team to obtain information on credit card expenditure.
• regular audits undertaken on sample transactions.
• provision of ongoing training for council employees on credit card usage.
• an Annual Review of processes and protocols.
• regular reminders sent out to employees on timeliness of coding their transactions within ProMaster – Council’s finance management system.
• updating policies/protocols including the Elected Members’ Allowances and Benefits Policy, Reward and Recognition Protocol, Internal Financial Controls Framework, Corporate Credit Card Protocol and Corporate Credit Card Policy.
• the introduction of the Entertainment and Hospitality Policy with clear definitions on what is acceptable business-related spending.

The Ombudsman has made 13 recommendations to further strengthen the work already undertaken to safeguard against the types of expenditure that had been the subject of the investigation.

Council will report to the Ombudsman on the steps taken to implement the recommendations by 2 March 2021.

Read the Ombudsman's Report

Over the past few months Garry McDonald has been out walking in his Glenunga neighbourhood and meeting lots of people.

“I was overjoyed at seeing teddy bears stuck in hedges and fences,” Garry says. “I call them ‘bed buddies’ because that is what my grandkids call them.”

He was impressed by the lack of security and the apparent confidence in the community that the teddy bears would not be stolen; and decided to add a 'bed buddy', Barnie, to his front gate.

“He had such a lovely coat that I made a raincoat for him from a shopping bag for the winter,” says Garry.

Garry added more to the 'collection'. “Eiligh is a Scottish lass who carries a shield which resembles the Coronavirus emblem. She is in the back window of my car to protect me from the virus coming up from behind me!”

Garry was struck by the positive community spirit these bed buddies seemed to epitomise and started a competition to find the display which was the most innovative and showed community engagement.

The woman who won (Sheriden) had a collection of bears and toys around a tree on her verge and a hand written note asking children to take them to the park for a play because she could not leave the house. Garry gave her a big box of chocolates.

He also took a photo of a family with their ‘bed buddies’ and entered it into an RAA competition which also won a box of chocolates.

“Michelle and Adrian and their boys have joined a growing number of Glenunga residents bringing joy to young and old sharing their 'bed buddies' with those who traverse the local streets,” says Garry. “Like all acts of kindness, it is infectious. Behind each 'bed buddy' is a family saying they want to be part of bringing silver linings to lighten the impact of COVID-19, displaying a desire to be neighbourly and to build this community.”

“People are reaching out and wanting to be neighbourly,” Garry says. “COVID has given us the chance to be more neighbourly.” He says he smiles at people in the street and they smile back. “I say ‘hi’ and they say ‘hi’. We really are all in this together.”

Garry says Council’s Know Your Neighbours campaign is in this same spirit. He encourages people to get to know a neighbour and maybe offer to do a small thing for them, like putting out the weekly rubbish bin. “Don’t be afraid to approach someone and offer some help. You don’t have to become firm friends but you can make a difference for someone by doing a favour – however small.”

Know Your Neighbours web page

East Waste will not collect rubbish bins on Christmas Day. Instead they will collect on Saturday 26 December.

Please do not put your bins out on Christmas Day.

Public Holiday Collections 2020

Waste Calendar

This photograph was taken circa 1953 from Burnside Council looking towards the intersection of Portrush and Greenhill Roads.

Nathaniel Knox (1797-1880) named Portrush Road after his hometown Portrush, in Northern Ireland. Greenhill Road opened circa 1849. The name describes how the road leads to a green hill.

The roundabout was completed in early 1953 as a solution to heavy traffic.

Submerged is presented by the Australian National Maritime Museum and the Australian Maritime Museums Council (AMMC) and is the result of a national project with workshops held across the country to develop the exhibition and to source shipwreck stories. Sixty eight shipwreck stories were nominated by 46 maritime museums and heritage institutions from around Australia with 14 of the most compelling stories selected to feature in the exhibition.

Submerged highlights Australian shipwrecks and increases public outreach. This collaborative project supports the AMMC in forging strong links with its current membership and extending its outreach to include additional members. The exhibition features shipwrecks from the seventeenth to twentieth centuries of different vessel types, engaged in a variety of activities, with at least one story from each state.

The exhibition can be viewed in the foyer of the Civic Centre until Wednesday 20 January 2021.

Compare the pair!

Kensington Gardens Reserve from above in 1945 and 2020.

In 1945, RAAF aerial photographer, Lyall Pike, was aboard an Arvo Anson travelling from Melbourne to Adelaide. As a resident of Kensington Gardens, he asked the pilot to circle the Reserve before landing so he could take a photograph.

Kim Mavromatis (MAV Media) took the drone shot earlier this year at the Kensington Gardens Reserve Community Welcome Day.

It has been an extraordinary year for everyone, but think of those who may have lost their job, even their home. At Christmas, dig deep and think of those less fortunate. The Christmas Tree in the Civic Centre Atrium (outside the Library) is used as a Christmas donation tree on behalf of the Burnside Lions Club. For families doing it tough the donations can make a big difference. Non-perishable foods, toys, clothing and essential grocery items such as flour and rice are all welcome. Gifts can be wrapped or unwrapped.

Donations go to Anglicare, Uniting Care Wesley and St Luke's Mission. Adult items go to the Hutt Street Centre.

If you have a larger donation to make that won't fit under the tree, contact Bob on 0407 716 928 or email burnside.lions@adam.com.au Donations can also be left at the Burnside Village Donation Tree outside Coles.

Over the past few months Garry McDonald has been out walking in his Glenunga neighbourhood and meeting lots of people.

“I was overjoyed at seeing teddy bears stuck in hedges and fences,” Garry says. “I call them ‘bed buddies’ because that is what my grandkids call them.”

He was impressed by the lack of security and the apparent confidence in the community that the teddy bears would not be stolen; and decided to add a 'bed buddy', Barnie, to his front gate.

“He had such a lovely coat that I made a raincoat for him from a shopping bag for the winter,” says Garry.

Garry added more to the 'collection'. “Eiligh is a Scottish lass who carries a shield which resembles the Coronavirus emblem. She is in the back window of my car to protect me from the virus coming up from behind me!”

Garry was struck by the positive community spirit these bed buddies seemed to epitomise and started a competition to find the display which was the most innovative and showed community engagement.

The woman who won (Sheriden) had a collection of bears and toys around a tree on her verge and a hand written note asking children to take them to the park for a play because she could not leave the house. Garry gave her a big box of chocolates.

He also took a photo of a family with their ‘bed buddies’ and entered it into an RAA competition which also won a box of chocolates.

“Michelle and Adrian and their boys have joined a growing number of Glenunga residents bringing joy to young and old sharing their 'bed buddies' with those who traverse the local streets,” says Garry. “Like all acts of kindness, it is infectious. Behind each 'bed buddy' is a family saying they want to be part of bringing silver linings to lighten the impact of COVID-19, displaying a desire to be neighbourly and to build this community.”

“People are reaching out and wanting to be neighbourly,” Garry says. “COVID has given us the chance to be more neighbourly.” He says he smiles at people in the street and they smile back. “I say ‘hi’ and they say ‘hi’. We really are all in this together.”

Garry says Council’s Know Your Neighbours campaign is in this same spirit. He encourages people to get to know a neighbour and maybe offer to do a small thing for them, like putting out the weekly rubbish bin. “Don’t be afraid to approach someone and offer some help. You don’t have to become firm friends but you can make a difference for someone by doing a favour – however small.”

In 1938, Lucy Grace Lillywhite of Perroomba Wattle Park, embarked on the RMS Maloja headed for London to undertake study in postgraduate nursing and hospital administration at Bedford College. Lucy was the third Australian woman, and second South Australian, to receive the prestigious Florence Nightingale Scholarship. Lucy’s plans to return to Adelaide in 1939 were abandoned when she was diagnosed with tuberculosis on a visit to Norway. As her health deteriorated in hospital she observed the outbreak of World War II before passing away in 1942.

Learn more about Lucy’s story in the ‘Local History Corner’.

Local History Corner