The Local Government Act permits a council (ie by formal resolution in an open council meeting) to impose various service charges. Section 162 of the Act states:
(1) A Council may declare a service rate or an annual service charge or any combination of such a rate and charge for any of the following services-
(a) the provision of a water supply;
(b) the collection and disposal of refuse;
(c) the provision of sewage services;
(d) any other prescribed service.
A Special Council Meeting was called on May 11th, 2010 where the following was adopted unanimously:
“The Act requires that Council advertise the proposed Budget i.e. make it publicly available for information and comment.
An information session will be held for the public on Monday, 24 May 2010 to provide an overview of the 2010/11 draft Annual Budget.
The public have until 10 June 2010 to lodge Budget submissions.
Budget submissions received from the public will be reported to Council at the Special Council meeting of 15 June 2010; thereafter, the Budget will be submitted for adoption.”
The PROPOSED BUDGET included the increase in charges for waste collection of a 240 litre bin from $151.20 to $260.00 per annum. An additional $20 was added to the previously announced charge of $240
Yet, in a letter signed by the Mayor, Cr. Tang, and dated the 23rd April, 2010 there is stated unequivocally the following:
“Given the additional cost of collecting waste, the garbage charge for a 240 litre bin will now be $260 for the 2010-2011 financial year’.
We raise this issue and ask:
- How can Tang declare any service charge increase PRIOR to a full council resolution?
- Did councillors even know of this letter?
- What does this say about the governance practices and open decision making at Glen Eira?
Ironically, in the same minutes of 11th May, at item 9.12, we are told that Council’s share of the Clayton tip revenue will reap $637,000!!! The stated cost of the State government land fill levy was also $600,000!!!
The most important issue though is that of governance and due process. Tang’s letter makes it absolutely clear that the decision to impose the $20 surcharge had been made before it was even discussed in Council. We wonder if other councillors even knew of this letter, or even had the opportunity to debate it before it went out. Not only does it usurp their power as a council, but it mocks the whole principle of transparent decision making and potentially the law of the land.
Glen Eira Debates 
August 12, 2010 at 5:30 PM
This is absolutely staggering! Now we know who really runs the show.
August 12, 2010 at 9:52 PM
Could someone check my maths please?
I got such a letter and am now wondering why we’ve been hit with this extra $20 bill – on top of another $400 increase in rates which arrived today. According to council media release 60% of households switched over to the 120 bin. If we’ve got about 54,000 households, that means that roughly 21,000 will be paying the extra $20. A grand total of $420,000 extra. Or worked out another way at over $100 dollar increase for the 240 bin -that means an extra $2.1 million into council coffers. Add to this the profit of $600,000 from the Clayton tip and council is sitting pretty. I never knew that I was such a cash cow for this greedy council.
August 13, 2010 at 10:42 PM
I just checked my rates and Glen Eira News break up of delivered services. I wonder how the $100.00 revenue is being divyid up among services? It says; Figures include internal revenue and expense allocations and are calculated net of direct income items such as direct income items such as grants and fees and charges (excluding waste management). Does that means that it includes Overheads? Does it mean that it includes the non-productive elements of the local Government? How does it work? Can anyone explain?