Council walkout denied

By JONATHON HOWARD

TENTERFIELD Shire Council general manager, Lotta Jackson, has played down rumours of a council walkout following the shock resignation of several senior directors.
Mrs Jackson said in a press release that small councils needed to be nimble and focused on strategic, innovative solutions across the business.
“We started this with the inclusion of Strategic Planning in the Environmental Services Department in 2013,” she said.
“Following the success of the change to that portfolio, we see this as the next step in council’s drive for continuous improvement in management of our resources.”
In an unrelated development, the resignation of the Director of Engineering Services, Dr Dennis Gascoigne was also announced.
Beyond engineering, Dr Gascoigne’s other field of expertise is genomic medicine and he leaves to participate in the commercialisation of DNA sequencing techniques for the improved treatment of cancer.
The council appreciates Dr Gascoigne’s commitment to the completion of the Main Street project which has seen him remain in the role in recent months, and wishes him well in his endeavours.
Council’s Director of Environmental Services and Strategic Planning, Mr James Ruprai continues in his role and has described rumours of his resignation as “someone having a bit of a laugh”.
“I haven’t been here for a year yet and there’s still so much we can do,” he said.
Mayor Peter Petty confirmed council’s drive for continuous improvement in management of resources and congratulated the team for its progress in this direction.