City of Perth sacks CEO Ms Roberts amid governance investigation

The trouble-plagued City of Perth, which is under investigation by the local government watchdog amid ongoing governance concerns, has sacked its chief executive officer.

Mayor Bruce Reynolds said in a statement a special meeting of council last night had voted to "terminate Ms Roberts' appointment, effective immediately", following an independent investigation.

He said it was a "confidential employment matter", the details of which would not be released, but the "findings of the investigation were "sufficiently serious" to warrant her sacking.

The decision comes just a week after Local Government Inspector Tony Brown announced a three-month inquiry into the council, telling journalists there were "fractured working relationships and ongoing governance issues at the city".

'Toxic witch hunt'

Ms Roberts said in a statement she was "shocked" to learn she had been sacked and would appeal the decision, which followed a four-month investigation she branded a "witch hunt".

"The allegations and investigation appear to me to be nothing more than a witch hunt designed to impinge my reputation and scapegoat me by an otherwise toxic council and likely cost the rate payers handsomely," she said.

She said the allegations against her were "individually trivial in nature" and hinted that she would have more to say about the council's dysfunction.

"The allegations and subsequent investigation process have exposed the factionalism between the views of elected members with personal agendas and the effective function of the administration of local government as a multimillion-dollar business," she said.

"The dysfunction and harmful behaviours at the City of Perth, in particular amongst the elected members, is no secret and having been bound by confidentiality throughout the investigation I am now able to speak freely about my experiences and challenging relationship with certain members of council and intend to do so."