Burnside’s council should sit down with a cuppa and bickie to tackle the constant bickering, writes Mike Smithson.

Having just gasped at my latest Burnside Council rates notice, it never ceases to amaze me at the wasteful, methanic hot air emanating from this leafy municipal chamber.

Ratepayers across Adelaide and the state will have their own problems with local ‘parish pump’ squabbles, but this council takes the cake.

A specially commissioned report found factionalism, bullying and toxic exchanges are rife with legal costs soaring as roadway verges, footpaths, parks, litter and dog poo seem to be increasingly left unattended.

But who’s bullying who?

The ongoing angry behaviour and complaints are largely between well-known Mayor Anne Monceaux, almost 20-year veteran Councillor Jane Davey and other elected members.

The report found it’s the fourth time Cr Davey has been involved in a standards’ behavioural breach.

As long-suffering ratepayers are left to deal with the cost-of-living crisis and interest rates they can barely see over, the council’s time is regularly taken up with petty exchanges which were sorted out rationally when I was growing up.

To cut a long story short, it appears some councillors consider Her Worship has overstepped her role, and along with her husband, has assumed an overarching power that Donald Trump would be proud of.

Looking sideways at other councillors, smirking or levelling any form of........

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