At Tuesday night’s council meeting, Cr. Pilling requested an officer’s report on the enormous charge increases for 3 year old kindergartens. He stipulated that the report should also provide comparisons with prices at neighbouring councils. Pilling also expressed concern that the Glen Eira charges were at the ‘steep end’ of charges, especially in comparison to other councils. This request for a report was passed unanimously.
Pilling should be commended for his request and concern. However, we remind readers that we raised this matter as soon as the draft budget was published. We pointed out that by June 2012, parents of 3 year olds would be paying an extra $155 per week for their toddlers to attend a council run kindergarten. There was also a major story in the Leader which we featured. Alarm bells were thus ringing loud and clear months and months ago. So, why wasn’t this ‘concern’ expressed loudly and clearly at budget time – or even prior to then when plans were first being drawn up? Why is the request for a report put in months later, when the charges are already set in concrete? Perhaps Cr. Pilling did raise the matter in Assemblies. We don’t know. But the end result was that the budget was passed unanimously with a few minor adjustments (ie. 2 less sports grounds redone and a rate drop to 6.5% instead of 6.95%).
So, we are now in the position of waiting for the Officer’s report – which could take months. And what will this actually achieve anyway? Will it bring charges down this year, next year? Will it actually make any difference to anyone? We can only conclude that if Cr. Pilling and others were so concerned about the exorbitant increase then they should have rejected the budget when they had the opportunity. To cry crocodile tears now is far too late. And an Officer’s Report will fix nothing. It will be ‘noted’, and most probably go into the dustbin of history.
Glen Eira Debates 
September 22, 2011 at 7:59 AM
Good on you Pilling – once again shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted. Without questioning, you voted in the budget and now that your residents are complaining and an election is approaching you are seeking an Officer’s Report.
The time to question and raise the issue is long gone – it will be interesting to see Pilling’s comments and actions when next years budget is prepared (that’s assuming he gets re-elected). Pilling would do well to follow Penhalluriack’s comments and actions – he may not always succeed or be everyone’s cup of tea, but at least he raises residents’ concerns before the event.
September 22, 2011 at 8:31 AM
I get a funny feeling here that from now on the Councillors are going to actually sound compasionate to residents needs and make statements that sound great for the community……what date is the election.
September 22, 2011 at 10:24 AM
October 2012. Even Lipshutz has kept his mouth shut about “we know best” most of the time. Arrogance does not curry favour with residents and neither does resorting to sham acting.
September 22, 2011 at 3:55 PM
Acknowledge some of the comments here – there are real options once the report on childcare fees is tabled but first lets see the results. To block and vote against an entire budget based on one item in my mind is a irresponsible. I certainly advocated strongly against the full fee increase in the formulating of the current budget.
September 22, 2011 at 10:42 PM
Cr. Pilling, when the budget was presented to and passed by Council on June 28th, why didn’t you comment then that you opposed the full fee increase. It wouldn’t have stopped the passing of the budget but would certainly have added some much needed openness and transparency to the process. Tang took the opportunity to outline his opposition to the rate increase.
It would also be interesting to know why you are requesting the report at the Sept. 20 Meeting rather than at the preceeding two meetings (July and August).
September 22, 2011 at 11:16 PM
Thank you for responding Cr Pilling, but we have grave doubts that your report will solve anything. You might get some reliable figures but in the end that’s all they will be, simply figures which tell us how much more this council fleeces from its residents in comparison to other councils. What is then required is a frank and open discussion by all councillors in an open public council meeting on a motion that actually provides some real alternatives. We sincerely wish you all the luck in the world because it appears that this administration would love nothing more than to rid itself of all involvement in child care. Perhaps you might also consider asking and making public how many 3 year olds have actually missed out on places this year when preference was given to 4 year olds. Now that figure might really tell a story.
September 22, 2011 at 8:07 PM
To pre-empt the officers’ report, we took exactly 20 minutes to locate the following comparative figures from neighbouring councils on their increased fees for day long childcare for toddlers 3 and under for 2011/12 –
Kingston – $ 78.75 – $84.30
Stonnington – $79 – $82.50
Port Phillip – $83.10 – $89.90
The charges go up during the year, hence the 2 figures. Glen Eira’s increase from last year equals $31 per day to the final grand cost of $115 per day making it a weekly hike of $155.
September 22, 2011 at 10:38 PM
Glen Eira you have no clue. You will have egg on your face when the report comes out.
September 22, 2011 at 10:45 PM
Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms Anonymous,
please enlighten us if you can. Perhaps simply start with what you believe we have “no clue” about and then provide some information which will substantiate your views.