Two of the most senior long term managers at Central Coast Council Leadership Team – Julie Vaughan and Scott Cox – were on their way out
No reason was given for the sudden departure of the two senior staff members, but former Council figurehead Brian Bell will step back into a senior role at the embattled organisation.
Social media lit up when the news hit on Wednesday night and most comments were in favor of the decision to freshen up the leadership team.
To be fair, Ms Vaughan and Mr Cox had to battle their way through the consequences of amalgamating two council staffs who resisted the changes, a computer system that didn’t work properly and massive financial and business mismanagement.
Add that to a fractured majority of inexperience Councillors who spent way beyond their means and you have the makings of the $500M plus disaster that ratepayers have been left to pay off.
As they say in the classics – something had to give.
The Press Release Reads:
“Central Coast Council has today announced interim leadership team changes.
“As we move into the consolidation period of Council’s Financial Recovery Plan, a decision has been made to refresh the executive leadership team of the organisation” Council’s CEO Mr David Farmer said.
“Mr Scott Cox, Director Environment and Planning and Julie Vaughan, Director Community and Recreation Services are leaving the organisation effective close of business on Friday November 26.
“Two interim positions have been appointed for an approximate three-month period whilst Council undertakes a recruitment process.
“Mr Brian Bell will act in the role of Director Community and Recreation Services and Mr Farmer will shortly appoint a person to act in the role of Director Environment and Planning.
“The challenges that Central Coast Council have faced over the past few years have been well documented. Over the past 12 months drastic action such as emergency loans, deep cost-cutting and rate increases have had to be implemented to ensure that the Council could continue to deliver service to the community. Council is now back on track financially meeting all major milestones and targets in its recovery plan,” Mr Farmer said.
“I sincerely thank Ms Vaughan and Mr Cox for their extended period of services to the Central Coast community, their extensive contributions to building a post-amalgamation new regional Council and in particular their roles in the very difficult financial recovery phase of this organisation over the past 12 months.”
