A third Kiama councillor within 12 months is being investigated for an alleged code of conduct breach, according to recent Council business papers.

A new Code of Conduct Complaint against a councillor appeared on the estimated legal fees report dated 30 April this year, with a cost of $5,200 for an investigation.

“Code of Conduct complaints are … made to the CEO (unless they’re about the CEO) as per our policy. The CEO has no comment,” a council spokesperson said.

A council spokesperson said this was a separate matter and did not relate to the proceeding of Councillor Renkema-Lang v Kiama Council in the Supreme Court, which may be settled on May 30. The estimated legal fees for Councillor Karen Renkema-Lang v Kiama Council in the Supreme Court is $444,511.

Council’s legal fees as of March this year are $4.7 million and mounting.

In July last year, Councillor Mark Croxford was censured by the council for a breach of the code.

The issue allegedly arose during a council debate over the rejection of the Golden Valley Way DA in Jamberoo on 21 March.

Kiama Council CEO Jane Stroud said the behaviour was not conducive with councillors’ code of conduct.

"Council resolved the following: That Council, pursuant to section 440G of the Local Government Act, formally censures Councillor Croxford for statements made at the meeting held on 21 March 2023, following the meeting which the investigation report substantiated conduct that amounts to engaging in intimidation, noting that such behaviour does not comply with the code of conduct for councillors," said CEO Jane Stroud.

In November last year, Councillor Renkema-Lang launched legal proceedings over a censure for a June 21 radio interview she did on the reclassification of land at Blue Haven Bonaira.

Councillor Renkema-Lang filed proceedings in the NSW Supreme Court and sought to set aside or invalidate the censure. A direction hearing on 22 April revealed that council had admitted the censure was invalid.

CEO Jane Stroud said in words which have proved prescient, “I hold specific concerns and worry about the worsening functionality of the Council, when in such uncertain times and unchartered territory, what is really required is cohesive and collective effort to correct the course of the organisation.”

Council elections will be held on 14 September, 2024.