AN audit of Oberon Council's road construction and maintenance has caused concern before it has even begun.
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It generated some heated discussion at the most recent council meeting about how much input councillors should have before the audit kicks off.
Councillor Andrew McKibbin called for the independent audit back in July and had his motion to do so carried, though further action was deferred until a report from the general manager came back to council as to the cost of the audit and means of funding it.
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That further information was made available at last week's meeting, where a recommendation was carried to transfer $40,000 from the maintenance program to undertake the audit; for council to ask each consultant to supply a detailed quote to undertake the audit; and for councillors to provide feedback to the general manager on matters for consideration for the detailed brief for the audit within seven days.
Cr McKibbin said council had to get the brief for the audit and terms of reference correct.
"We need a draft brief that we can see and add to if we need to before it goes to consultants," he said.
Council general manager Gary Wallace said that was why he wanted to get input for the final brief.
"You engage me and professional staff to do the operational brief - not for councillors to step over the line of operation," he said in reply to Cr McKibbin.
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Cr Don Capel said the general manager was seeking councillors' input before he writes the final brief.
"That's his job - we put ideas in and then we let him do his job," he said.
Cr McKibbin tried to move an amendment to include a workshop to prepare a brief and terms of reference for consultation, but this was lost.
Discussions started to get heated between Cr McKibbin and Mr Wallace and the mayor had to call order.
Cr McKibbin said all he wanted was to see what would go out to consultants.
"This is an important issue," he said.
"Part of the consultation is to make sure they are going to do the job we want. Councillors need to see it."
In calling for the audit in July, Cr McKibbin said Oberon had seen a cumulative 39.4 per cent increase in rates over the past five years and he thought it was important to know council was getting value for money on its road construction and maintenance.