Denmark Council under fire

More than 100 people attended a special Denmark Chamber of Commerce and Industry meeting to voice concern about community engagement in the Shire on Monday.

Chamber president Beverley Ford said 67 businesses were represented at the two-hour meeting.

She said members' concerns were mainly a "lack of transparency and lack of respect" some business owners believe they receive from Shire staff.

"The other major concern is the fear of speaking out (against the Shire) in case there are adverse consequences for them," she said, but would not elaborate further.

It was one of the chamber's largest formal meetings for years, which Mrs Ford described as "polite, respectful and orderly" with an atmosphere of "unity".

The meeting comes after a tumultuous few weeks for the Shire, which has included a complaint to the Minister for Local Government Tony Simpson about alleged governance issues, and the suspension and subsequent sacking of its infrastructure services director Rob Whooley for alleged breaches of his contract.

Four motions to improve the relationship between the business community and Shire were passed at the chamber's meeting.

A motion calling to reinstate monthly community meetings with council was carried 45 votes to seven, while a motion for the chamber to request clarification from the Shire on its procurement processes, definition of local suppliers and buy-local policy was passed unanimously.

A motion requesting the chamber write to Shire president Ross Thornton and Mr Simpson requesting better community engagement and transparency was carried 40-9, and a motion requesting the chamber call a public meeting was narrowly carried 24-23.

Mrs Ford said issues that drew "diverse and robust" discussion were the Shire's community needs and customer satisfaction survey, moves to restrict boat launching at Ocean Beach, permit overflow camping and caravanning at McLean Park on private land, allowing an adventure park and securing swimming pool funding.

She said the chamber may have been "irregular" in calling the meeting, which was held at her discretion in response to a request by 15 members.

"We might have jumped the gun on giving enough notice … we had unknown motions coming from the floor which should have been listed and distributed to members before the meeting," Mrs Ford said.

"If it was an incorrectly constituted meeting then the motions are not binding … and we would have to ratify them."

A committee meeting has been proposed for next Tuesday to consider the motions passed.