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Cottesloe council and Cottesloe Tennis Club in clear after complaint made about nature of loan

Jon BassettWestern Suburbs Weekly

COTTESLOE council and Cottesloe Tennis Club will not be investigated over allegations they acted without transparency and contrary to policies regarding a $420,000 loan for the club’s proposed expansion last December.

“The council has received a letter from the Department of Local Government and Communities advising council that the department, following its assessment, has found no evidence to undertake a formal assessment of the complaint,” Cottesloe chief executive Mat Humfrey said on Wednesday .

The Napier Street club requested the loan for improvements including a 10-court extension, alterations to other courts and installing playing lights.

After obtaining legal advice, club member George Bray sent an official complaint in March to the Department of Local Government.

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It was alleged the club’s meeting about the loan was invalid and the council did not follow the Local Government Act.

However, club president Phillip Barron said the club had shown it could raise and pay for the loan for a project already supported by Tennis West and a $53,000 grant from the Department of Sport and Recreation.

The Department of Local Government subsequently investigated Mr Bray’s claims, but having found no evidence of wrongdoing the loan will proceed after the council amends its 2015-16 budget.