Submissions on the State Planning Ministerial Review close on August 31st. Thus far Glen Eira has not produced any public documentation on its anticipated submission. That’s fine, except that the next council meeting is set for the 30th August – one day prior to the closing date and there’s nothing in the agenda items for this important document. So once again the likely scenario is that officers will write the report but without full public discussion by councillors. Or perhaps no report from council will eventuate! In any event, the outcome will mean that councillors either will have had no input; or if there has been any input, then it is once again done behind closed doors. Without an agenda item, councillors can at least be saved from the embarrassment of rubber stamping something that is put under their noses at the last minute.
No so at other councils however. We discover that Bayside has included a ‘report’ on the draft submission at its last council meeting, thus providing plenty of time for debate and alterations. Kingston has also produced a draft six and a half page submission plus media releases and commentary by the Mayor. Surely it’s not too much to expect that in two months since the
announcement of the review and the establishment of the Panel, that something more than a link on council’s home page would eventuate?
Glen Eira Debates 
August 26, 2011 at 8:22 PM
Yup 2 months to probably produce a 1 and a half page like the VEAC one.Their smart – better not even bother!
August 27, 2011 at 3:57 PM
I am glad you reminded me of this event, Smart Aleck,
Because like a episode “Black Adder Goes To War” Its still hilarious no matter how many times you see it.
I came across Glen Eira’s submission on the the VEAC web site, or was it the Glen Eira’s submission. I say this, because it was submitted on the mayoral letterhead and not in the usual corporate colours.
I this was strange, and it got me thinking, why was Glen Eira’s VEAC submission, submitted on the mayoral letterhead.
Like the CSI officer I am not, or would like to be, just because my partner would love me more if I finally did something useful, and solving problems ain’t my forte. Having been schooled in the no mercy university of humor, more commonly known as build sites. I think I can spot a practical joke from a kilometre and a half off.
I did a bit of snooping and I looked at every council submission to VEAC, and all displayed the appropriate corporate regalia. So why was Glen Eira’s different. Mind you I am not down on differences.
Having said that the mayors from Bayside, Stonnington, Port Phillip and Monash didn’t personally submit there ideas to VEAC, the bureaucrats did this work and was sent as a corporate or City Council document here. But it is worth noting from a Glen Eira point of view.
Maybe, I am being a touch over active here, but our submission was on the mayoral office letterhead, which just didn’t jell me. After all you don’t see your rate renewal notice posted through your slot on the Mayor’s letterhead.
Mind you, if the Mayor actually did put pen to paper and did the deed herself, licked the stamp and posted it off to VEAC. I will stand down and hang my head in shame for this rumoring and mischief.
But at the same time I would also be damning on the town hall bureaucrats, that let her send amateurish nonsense in our name, because from the top down they are paid to know and do better, they are professionals and not amateurs at this submission game.
As my father says, I don’t like repeating rumors and gossip so listen carefully.
I reckons she didn’t do that penning at all.
I will bring another of my favorite TV funnies in at this stage “The Office” and for a poor worker likes myself whom rarely get to grace such establishment like situations, it was a insightful and very funny, and on average a touch more subtle than your average building site funny like the dead possum in your lunch bag.
Maybe our Town Hall “Office” script went like this. The Bureaucrats penned that VEAC submission in 10mins max, they passed it round for a giggles or two, it was funny I must admit. Classic bureaucratese.
But after the giggles subsided, the serious business raised it ugly head, after all it is the Glen Eira Town Hall and not the stock exchange and solutions must be found.
So the problem is, someone had to put there John Hancock on this little horror, but who would, so round and round the office it goes like a hot potato, and I imagine that no self respecting suit & tie would have wanted to be associated with this submission, let alone sign it. Once signed, like the arrow that shot the albatross it cannot be recalled, it would hang like the dead albatross.
I have learnt from watching “The Office” that bureaucratic careers are are linked to resumes and resumes are like little collections of achievements or stories, some true and some not so true. Just like in the building trade its not what you see that’s important its what you can get away with that counts. We call it painting over the cracks, maybe resumes paper over the cracks.
And like the building trade what you build or sign is yours for life, or at least till you can disown it.
I suspect in the modern office its pretty much the same game, now made even harder by the www, facsimiles in cyberspace can re-surface anytime anywhere to haunt you. Self respecting bureaucrat with half an eye on the future would never want this little shocker submission to VEAC to reappear or to be ever link to them ever.
I bet it went around the traps twice before some cunning genius came up with the solution, get the Mayor to sign the submission, and send it on her letterhead.
The really funny part is they actually got Esakoff to signed it.
I love sharing a good joke, and I think the Glen Eira or should I say the Mayors VEAC submission should still be available on-line through their web site.
I suggest the head honcho of this blog should hunt it down and place it up for all to see. Whack up a comparison with one of our neighbouring city council, like BaySide. You would think that with our chronic lack of open space and population predictions, we could have done a better submission than the mayors.
Its either damning indictment of just how shallow our pond is.
Or maybe like a lunch bag dead possum, its just good old office joke, and what ever gets you through a long day at the Town Hall Office maybe considered fair, and I am still laughing. Well done guys.
August 27, 2011 at 4:10 PM
Dear TRex,
we have highlighted the Glen Eira submission and other councils previously. See: https://gleneira.wordpress.com/2011/02/15/public-open-space-veac-submissions/
You will find links on this post to Bayside, etc.