Several years ago the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA) produced a publication entitled ‘The Role of the Mayor: A VLGA Checklist.’ Listed below are some of the qualities considered vital in those individuals undertaking the role of Mayor.
We ask any interested reader to assess Tang against these criteria – remembering of course that he is now in his SECOND term as Mayor, and has previously been Deputy Mayor. Please provide a grading of 0 to 5 against any (or all) of the following, or if preferred, an overall grade.
Governance
- to provide a source of leadership for Council and Community
- to provide a symbol of democracy to the community
- to lead, inspire and support the team of elected Councillors
- to be a source of inspiration for Council staff and the community
- to ensure effective communication and respectful relationships among Councillors
- to ensure effective communication and respectful relationships between Councillors and Administration
- to ensure there is effective communication between Council and the CEO in pursuit of Council’s goals
- to promote the interests of the local government and the community
- to maintain political stability and community credibility of Council
- to generate community cohesion and inclusiveness
- to model high standards of behaviour and practice
- to project values and standards into the community
- to govern for all members of the community
- to articulate collective aspirations of the community and promote collective endeavour
- to defend the interests of the community and the local government of the community
Chair of Council
- to preside efficiently, firmly and fairly over Council meetings
- to promote high standards of democratic governance and internal governance
- to guide meetings to ensure respectful conduct at all times
- to facilitate participation and inclusion of all Councillors
- to exercise the casting vote where a Council vote is tied
Supporting the Community
- to advocate on behalf of community programs, needs and wellbeing
- to attend community functions on a fair and equitable basis
- to be knowledgeable about community programs and activities
- to promote community development
- to strengthen community governance and enterprise
- to strengthen communities against external threats
Glen Eira Debates 
October 1, 2010 at 11:06 AM
symbol of democracy – refuse to publish inspector’s report
stability and credibility – another inspector’s report
high standards of behaviour – frisbee
govern for all members – only those who are in on the inner circle
defend interests of the community – need to know what those interests are first and if you refuse to listen….well
advocating – not when its a we know best approach
total score? minus 5!
October 1, 2010 at 11:17 AM
My husband’s an impossible hoarder, so decided to finally clean up the garage last night. There were piles of old newspapers. Started sifting through some of these and found an article on parking fines and councils refusal to announce an amnesty. What caught my eye though was this statement by Tang
It is simply not fair to allow some offenders to avoid part of
their penalty obligations while others do the right thing and
pay up.
In the light of the frisbee mess isn’t this ironic?
October 2, 2010 at 8:33 AM
That is a very interesting comment by The Mayor, Fiona, can you please advise me of the date this article was in the paper, I think I might now a few interested parties……….how will they squirm out of this one?
October 3, 2010 at 10:42 AM
Sorry John but everything went into the bin and I didn’t notice the date.
October 1, 2010 at 4:35 PM
Tang has sat on two of the most important committees going – local laws and community consultation. Each of these has been responsible for further eroding the possibility of community input. All of Tang’s utterances reveal strong support for the ridiculous notion that consultation is primarily about writing submissions that are inevitably ignored. His support of lipshutzs gagging clauses in the local law also says alot about how genuine he is in representing the community. Now we have the frisbee affair – he must resign together with his sidekick liphshutz
October 4, 2010 at 9:24 AM
Tang is to a degree responsible for the E Bentleigh farce. Why isn’t he doing his articles? Is it true that the only paying position he could get was Mayor?