Rockingham mayor to undergo training after ‘minor breach’ of code of conduct

City of Rockingham mayor Lorna Buchan has been ordered to take part in training on social media use after being found to have committed minor breaches of the city’s code of conduct.

The city’s behaviour complaints committee ruled in April that Ms Buchan had breached three clauses of the code of conduct for council members, committee members and candidates.

It found the breaches were at the “minor end” of the scale.

The complaint was lodged by Phil Edman in February. Details of the complaint were not included in the city’s register of complaints of minor breaches.

The breached clauses were “personal integrity” and “relationship with others”, which include council members’ use of social media complies with the code of conduct and they must not use offensive or derogatory language when referring to another person.

The committee ruled that a plan for training about the roles and responsibilities of elected members and mayors, including the use of social media, be prepared and completed within six months.

The committee, which comprises council members, went behind closed doors to consider the matter at its April meeting.

Minutes of the meeting show committee members voted 7-3 to endorse the findings of an investigation into the complaint. Ms Buchan was not at that meeting.

An unrelated complaint considered by the committee in May was dismissed.

At the time, Ms Buchan said the complaints had been “dealt with in accordance with the law, to provide natural justice and due process”.

“Should breaches of the city’s code of conduct be found to have occurred, they will be recorded in the complaints register publicly available on the city’s website and also in the city’s annual report to achieve the transparency required by the legislation,” she said.

“As is normal practice, council members undertake a range of training, including mandatory training and other development opportunities relevant to their roles.

“These opportunities are aimed to assist in fulfilling their responsibilities, statutory requirements and leadership capabilities.”