Hilltops Council Administrator Wendy Tuckerman last week sent a dismissal letter to Mr Ingram after he spoke out through the media over the distribution of council funds.

John Horton, a member of the Harden Local Representative Committee, said the merged council had no other choice as the issue was a breach in contract. 

“It is extremely unfortunate that it has come to this,” Mr Horton said.

“But when you sign a contract, you know what you know what you are signing. If you don’t obey the rules, you must expect the consequences. A contract is a contract.”

Mr Ingram also outlined his growing concerns over infrastructure backlogs in a letter to the Young Witness.

He said he was disappointed with the decision to remove him from his position on the LRC.

“Apparently freedom of speech is only allowed if you are paying compliments to the council, I have been sacked because I spoke out about my concerns,” he said. 

“I find it is a strange move by Wendy as all the committee people finish next month anyway, so this reinforces my suspicion that the real aim was to remove me from the Stronger Regions Panel which oversees the allocation of the Stronger Community Funding.”

In her dismissal letter to Mr Ingram, Ms Tuckerman said Mr Ingram was not delegated to speak to the media on council’s behalf.

“The letter signed by you and published in various print and media outlets suggests you are representing a committee of council without the authority to do so,” Mrs Tuckerman said. 

“Because of this unauthorised representation to the media I exercise my authority to remove you from all current representative roles on Hilltops Council.”

Mrs Tuckerman said it was regretful that Mr Ingram chose to go outside his terms of reference.

“If Mr Ingram was unhappy with allocation of funds his job was to report that to me, not go to the media,” she said.

Meanwhile, Mr Horton has announced his intention to run for Hilltops Council in the upcoming elections in September.