By Jessica Grimble 

A countback will determine Horsham Rural City’s next councillor. 

The Victorian Electoral Commission, VEC, will undertake a countback of all votes from the 2020 council election to determine whether candidates Brian Basham or Robert Redden will be offered a place at the seven-member council table. 

It comes after the resignation of Di Bell on Friday. 

Mr Basham originally placed eighth, with 3.79 percent of the first-preference vote, and Dr Redden ninth, with 3.19 percent, among a field of nine candidates. All candidates not elected at the 2020 election, and who remain eligible to be a councillor, are automatically participants in a countback.  The VEC was yet to receive formal notification of the vacancy when The Weekly Advertiser went to press. 

A spokesperson said VEC would begin a process to fill the vacancy once notification was received and a timeline confirmed. 

Chief executive Sunil Bhalla said the council was corresponding with the VEC. He expected more details to become available in coming days. 

Mr Bhalla acknowledged Mrs Bell’s service, and her comments of an ‘unsafe workplace’ in resigning from her role. 

“The health and safety of our staff and councillors is paramount,” he said.  

“We are committed to ensuring Horsham Rural City Council’s values of respect, integrity and accountability are embedded across all levels of council and we will continue working with the monitor appointed to the council in recent weeks.” 

Mr Bhalla said Mrs Bell’s resignation did not impact the scope and work of municipal monitor Jude Holt, who, across a six-month period, will observe governance processes and report on issues, provide advice to the council and make recommendations to the Local Government Minister Melissa Horne for further action. 

Candidate Mr Basham, a former police officer who now works as a mental health counsellor and clinical hypnotherapist, said he ‘absolutely’ remained interested in becoming a councillor. 

He moved to the region in 2016. 

He said he stood for transparency, integrity and openness and he believed the council could do better in engaging and communicating with residents – right across the municipality. 

He wants to see the return of fortnightly meetings – one outside of Horsham – to engage with the community. 

“I’ve always believed that council exists for the residents and ratepayers – and I’ve always said that. This isn’t about the people sitting around the table – whether it’s staff or councillors – it’s about the people,” he said.

Mr Basham has been a vocal commentator of the council for years. 

“What I have put on display, and the commentary I make, are, what I think, legitimate comments,” he said. 

“We live in a democracy that is founded on freedom of speech, so as long as I don’t do anything illegal or defamatory – and I don’t think anything I’ve ever done is defamatory – I think I would still express the concerns I’ve expressed; but if I was elected, I would express them internally first.” 

Mr Basham said he would renominate for election in 2024, regardless of the countback’s outcome. 

The VEC spokesperson said once the countback was conducted, the successful candidate must complete and return a declaration stating they are still qualified to be a councillor. If the candidate does not return the declaration within 48 hours, a further countback would be held.

The Weekly Advertiser was unable to contact Dr Redden, a retired seed curator and non-fiction writer. 

• Di Bell resigns

 

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The entire August 10, 2022 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!