Council meeting items and the issue of Confidentialty

The seemingly burgeoning amount of in-camera (confidentfial) agenda items not only here in Glen Eira but also in other municipalities including the City of Melbourne where a recent meeting had less than twenty mins of public discussion has been highlighted recently. I acknowledge the concerns raised on this issue by the local website Glen Eira debates.

Yesterday I raised the following points with other Crs and the CEO.

-"One of the issues for Glen Eira in 2012 is how to address the seemingly increasing amount of confidential items that are held in the in-camera section of the meeting agenda- increasingly so over the past few years.

Our aim as a Council should be to reduce this to the essential minimum so as to allow for as maximum public discussion as possible on agenda items.

Whilst I acknowledge that there are instances such as business tenders and OH @ S issues that require confidentiality I feel that there needs to be far greater efforts in keeping other items in the public agenda.

Other councils such as Port Phillip if necessary spilt the item in two to allow for public discussion.

At each of the pre-meeting assemblies there should be an improved discussion and questioning as to the why and of the need for any proposed confidential agenda item,"

Party in the Park - Princes Park Sun Jan 15th

Princes Park
Sunday 15 January 12pm–4pm
Hawthorn Road, Caulfield South
Melways reference: 67 H7

The first community event for the year will be held next Sunday week and is outlined from Council's homepage below;

Party in the Park at Princes Park is a free day of family fun and entertainment hosted by master of mime, Jack Dan.

Join Blinky Bill as he sings and dances his way through a musical adventure show, which features terrific bush tunes, interactive singing, dancing, activities and the slapstick comedy for which Blinky Bill is most famous. Then step into the theatrical past and the golden age of magic with The Carnival of Dreams — an entertaining and mystifying stage show of magic, illusion, movement and conjuring in a cabaret and vaudevillian style. In The Carnival of Dreams, Madotti and Vegas bring over 10 years of magic experience to the stage, having performed in Berlin, Japan, Hong Kong and throughout Australia.

Come and see the amazing stilt-walking Praying Mantis, who comes from a world where blades of grass grow above your head and insects are bigger than cars. Gorgeous, feminine and fantastical, the highly skilled stilt-walking flowers are cheeky, flirtatious and elegant.

Activities include jumping castle, art and craft activities for children, community information stalls, food stalls, magic workshops, balloons and much more!

Railway Level Crossings -New findings released

Yesterday the Age published a front page article highlighting a letter to Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder in June by VicRoads chief executive Gary Liddle and Department of Transport director Hector McKenzie (obtained under FOI) strongly advocating that grade separation be done not just at the Murrumbeena crossing but also at Carnegie and Hughesdale.

The short distance between the three stations deemed it impractical from an engineering perspective to do only the Neerim Rd M/Beena crossing as has been canvassed by the Baillieu Government.

The other chief finding was that any further increased capacity (incl a 3rd line) on the Dandenong line would lead to an increasingly traffic gridlock situation in peak times- no surprises here to local residents and regular north-south commuters!

Full article is in links opposite bottom right.

Comment:
All three crossings as well as the Grange Rd one are located in the State seat of Oakleigh, a previously safe Labor seat on 12.4% still held by Ann Barker but now presently on a more marginal 4.85% . Considering the borderline majority of the Victorian State Government (in power only by two lower house seats) this political scenerio may well present the best chance for grade separation for all these congested crossings in the near future.

Community Events for summer

Serving on the Arts and Culture Committee for the past two years has been both interesting and rewarding. One of the most enjoyable aspects has been having some input into the popular Party in the Park series, fun and free community events.

This summer for the first time there will be an evening concert event at Packer Park Carnegie featuring renowned recording and live artist Clare Bowditch pictured, local band Tinpan Orange and recent battle of the bands winner High Voltage.
One not be missed!

Princes Park - Sunday 15 January - Daytime family event 12-4pm with lots of great childrens entertainers including Blinky Bill.

Packer Park - Under the Stars - Saturday 11 February -Evening concert event from 6pm Featuring Clare Bowditch.

Allnutt Park - Sunday 26 February - Daytime family event 12-4pm -fun for all the family with magicians, performers and the ever popular Pet Expo.

new Duncan Mckinnon pavillion- concerns raised at delayed commencement

Whilst much of the concerns of recent months has been around the new sports and aquatic centre (GESAC) just up the road Council's other large project- the construction of the new pavillion at Duncan Mckinnon reserve ($8.8m total) is raising its own concerns.

From an expected commencement starting date of mid-2011 and with no tenders for construction yet before Council there are still no firm dates for this project to start and thus to be completed. As a regular visitor to the netball and athletics club activities I understand how this delay is leading to increased uncertainty after community expectations that this much needed new facility would be operational by September 2012.

At the first Councillor assembly meeting in January I have requested a full update and explanation by our administration for the current situation. I acknowledge there were some delays caused by VicRoads in approving the new carpark entrances. However this should not have prevented the preparation and finalisation of the tender documents for construction being completed.

Any potential further starting delay past mid 2012 could have ramifications for the 2013/14 summer athletic competitions.

Merry Christmas

Thanks to everyone who has read the postings throughout the year.

This blog has been going since mid 09 (122 postings so far)and during that time I have endeavoured to write interesting articles on a range of council and community issues. This year it has been particularily useful in outlining my views and presenting alternative perspectives on several important issues in particular the GESAC basketball issue and childcare in general.

It is easy for individual Councillors' voices to be lost amongst the uniformity of Council life- I feel it is important that residents hear the views of those they have elected whilst still being an integral part of the Cr. group. It is possible to do such that and I have worked hard to achieve both!

As Dylan mused 'the times they are a changin'" - The whole outdated mid-nineties economic rationalist (ie Kennett era) approach that has led to such poor community decisions as on the basketball allocation at GESAC and sending childcare fees into the stratosphere are testement to the need for key directional changes in the future.

Will look forward to a productive 2012!,

Merry Christmas

GESAC - basketball - need to review and change allocation process

Earlier today sent this email thru to Crs ,CEO and admin on the need next year to review the whole Expression of Interest process that led to the present unfortunate situation where 1400+ local kids, families and clubs will most probably not be enjoying the brand new facilties at GESAC next year.

It was a case I feel of the wrong process for the wrong situation and an important part of any review will be acknowledging this. To conduct to what amounted to a quasi commercial tender process was to say the least misguided.

"In the aftermath of this years Gesac basketball saga feel it would be helpful to spend time in the New Year reviewing the whole EOI process and the criteria used in assessing.

I feel there are real questions as to whether this was the right way to go from the start.It's too simple and misses the point just to say that the MBA should have submitted a better bid.

There has to be a better way of determining the allocation - one that is more equitable and doesnt over emphasise 'marketing business plans' and court fees at the expense of real community need and the realities of local sport. Will do some research on similar situations for info on different allocation models. In my mind there are similarities to the childcare fees issues about getting the balance right.

In the end the current EOI process lead to a poor outcome that has caused anghst and outcry in our communities- For this reason alone we should work hard to ensure a fairer more community minded process is in place for the second twelve mths of GESAC"