The notice – which has been in private circulation around Bathurst for some months – has been made public as part of the business papers prepared for Wednesday night’s ordinary meeting of council.

Former councillor Gordon Crisp included a photocopy of the notice along with a two submissions – totalling 24 pages – on council’s financial statements for 2014-15.

The notice showed that the rates on a property in Ilumba Way, Kelso were in arrears to an amount of $7048.93 at the end of 2014-15, with a quarterly payment of $522.45 due to be paid by August 31.

It listed the “rates now due” total at $7571.38.

When asked about the rates, though, Cr Aubin said he was angry that someone had circulated the notice with the intention of creating trouble for him and that Mr Crisp had made the document public without first checking all the facts.

Cr Aubin said he had previously co-owned the home but he had moved out three years ago.

At the time, he said, he legally relinquished responsibility for the rates and mortgage payments and he had not seen another rates notice since then.

He said the property had now been sold and the outstanding rates bill had been settled, though “none of it came out of my pocket”.

He said he was seeking legal advice about the damage to his reputation.

“Mr Crisp has put this on the public record to bring my name into disrepute,” he said.

“Someone sent him a copy of a rates notice with my name on it, but I was not a party to it any more.

“Someone sent it to him to create a bit of trouble for me.”

Cr Aubin said he had provided council general manager David Sherley with the relevant documents to clear him of responsibility for the outstanding rates and said that “absolutely nothing will come of it”.

Mr Sherley would not be drawn on the specifics of the claims against Cr Aubin, but confirmed he had sought advice.

“Council will look at an allegation made against a councillor in the context of its responsibilities under the Local Government Act,” he said.

“Warren Aubin continues to be a councillor and continues to receive his monthly payment.”

In a report to Wednesday night’s council meeting corporate services and finance director Bob Roach notes receipt of Mr Crisp’s submissions and recommends that “no action be taken in relation to council’s financial statements”.

He further recommends that the submissions be referred to council’s auditor “in accordance with Section 420(3) of the Local Government Act 1993”.